OVER - DOING IT

Proverbs 25.16-17
OVER - DOING IT
"If you find honey, eat just enough — too much of it, and you will vomit."

ANYTHING, HOWEVER GOOD, WHEN overdone, becomes bad. Such is the abiding principle of life. If we heed it, and apply it, we will cultivate a much-needed skill for wholesome and happy living.

Solomon uses the example of honey. Today, we may be more familiar with chocolates. The first piece we eat is always delectable. So also perhaps the next couple of rounds. Somewhere along the line, the pleasure begins to diminish. If we do not stop there, the end result can be quite nauseating. The taste buds find the chocolates positively distasteful, and the stomach churns mournfully in protest.

The key to the enjoyment of the God-given pleasures of life is moderation. The line between what is legitimate and what is not is often one between "Enough!" and excess. Gluttony (too much eating), is a sin of excess, so also are sloth (too much resting), talkativeness (too much talking), and worry (too much thinking).

Too much of one thing at the expense of another is also unhealthy. Some examples are: too much time at work at the expense of time at home, too much interaction with a computer at the expense of communication with one's spouse, too much efforts at one's studies or career at the expense of one's relationship with the Lord. We must learn when to say, "Enough!"

Solomon makes an interesting application of the principle to neighbourliness: "Seldom set foot in your neighbour's house — too much of you, and he will hate you" (v. 17). Charles Bridges puts it succinctly, "Kindness may be worn out by frequent use." We should not presume on our neighbour's kindness and hospitality. How refreshing to find the Bible reminding us of such a simple but important courtesy in inter-personal relationships.

Proverbs counsels us not to exhaust someone's hospitality, either by over frequent visits or by staying beyond reasonable hours. In our urban society, we are less guilty of this (if anything, we don't visit enough!). But have we not been guilty of calling someone on the phone and assuming that he is there just waiting to hear us pour out our woes for the next hour or so? A simple question like "Excuse me, would you be free to talk for a while?" means we respect our friend's right to "private space" (and his time). Such consideration and moderation go a long, long way.

Is there something I have overdone?