April 17 | Gold in a Pig’s Snout
Proverbs 11:22, “Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion.”
In today’s proverb King Solomon gives a stern rebuke to beautiful women who have no discretion. Women who act with indiscretion are considered to be wasting their beauty; just like a gold ring is wasted on a dirty pig. The word indiscretion means, “lacking good judgment or morals.” Sadly, many beautiful women in our culture are trading their heavenly beauty for the mud of this world. And to be clear, I believe God considers all women to be beautiful!
The illustration of a gold ring in a pig’s snout is meant to show the ridiculous nature of something beautiful on something disgusting. The picture the reader is to have is of defilement, waste and disgust.
When women lack good judgment in their sexual behavior it is disgusting and their beauty is wasted. Yet, women don’t act alone in their perversion, the men who join with them share in sin’s shame. Thankfully, God is able to cleanse and wash away all the perversion in the hearts of men and women.
God is not giving Christians permission to be rude and vulgar to women who lack judgment and call them “pigs, sluts or whores.” Remember, the Bible teaches us that we are to lovingly treat others in the same way we want to be treated (Matthew 7:12). Jesus didn’t hurl insults at the woman caught in adultery but rather graciously forgave her by saying, “Then neither do I condemn you,’- ‘Go now and leave your life of sin’” (John 8:11). At the same time, God is teaching both males and females, that we need to act with discretion (sound judgment). Therefore, if a man lacks good judgment, his behavior is just as disgusting as the foolish woman.
Sometimes God offends our minds to open our hearts to the reality of our sins. Peter wrote in the New Testament that the Christian who goes back to their sins is like a dog eating their vomit and like a pig returning to the mud (2 Peter 2:22). Both are gross images, but that is the point! God wants us to see sin like He does, so we will hate it the way He hates it.
Everyone reading today’s proverb should be encouraged to use good judgment in his or her sexuality. If a woman lacks good judgment and begins doing any of the following; having sex before marriage, wearing revealing clothing and talking dirty, then she is wasting her beauty because she’s acting in a disgusting manner. The same is true with a man who does the exact same things. They are both acting like a pig with a gold ring in its snout.
John Wesley wrote, “[Disciples] ought continually to regard each other in God, and closely to examine themselves, whether all their thoughts are pure, and all their words directed with Christian discretion.” We are to act with purity in all we do and not let our evil desires defile us. Let’s all join together and live a life of holiness that’s pleasing to God!
Reflection
Action
- Ask God to show you if you’ve lacked discretion in your sexuality. Repent of any impurity you may have had.
- Ask God to give you discretion in your sexuality.
- Live a life of good judgment in all that you do, being led by the Holy Spirit.
One Year Reading Plan
Joshua 15:1-63, Luke 18:18-43, Psalm 86:1-17, & Proverbs 13:9-10. Click here to read online.