Proverbs 26:11, “As a dog returns to its vomit, so fools repeat their folly.”
Have you ever watched a dog eat its own vomit? I have and it’s disgusting. The dog ate it up and didn’t mind that it was its own puke, nasty. King Solomon in today’s proverb is making the comparison between a fool that repeats their folly and a dog that eats it own vomit. We all need to be reminded of what God has saved us from.
Sin to God is like vomit to us, disgusting. We should never desire sin or continue doing it.
The fool’s folly is comparable to vomit because it is vile to God. God does not see sin, even in the Christian’s life, as something “cute” or “harmless.” All sin, starting with Adam and Eve’s disobedience, is abominable to God. And as the dog returns to eat its own vomit is disgusting in our eyes, God wants us to see the fool repeating their sin just as disgusting. The ole’ time preachers used to say, “When we see sin like Jesus sees it, we will hate it like how He hates it.”
Sadly, just as the dog in it’s animal nature doesn’t feel shame or disgust for eating their vomit, the fool doesn’t have any remorse either. Instead, they defend and celebrate their sin. Today in the U.S., what once was commonly viewed as sinful is now celebrated and held in high esteem. Consider how homosexuality, lesbianism, abortion, transgenderism, sex before marriage and drug use are not only considered “acceptable” in our culture, but if you take a stand against them with the Word of God you’re called, “a hate-monger, a bigot and stupid.” Jesus said in Luke 16:15 (ESV), “For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.”
Today’s lesson from King Solomon is simple, “don’t be like a fool who keeps repeating their folly.” Yes, it’s true that God will forgive all your sin and be patient with you, however, do not use the grace of God as a license to continue in sin. Whenever you sin, be quick to repent and strive to never do it again. True repentance that brings forgiveness comes with the willingness to change. Otherwise, you become like a dog who continues to eats it own vomit and never feels any shame or guilt.
God said in 1 John 3:9, “No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God.” Therefore, make a decision today to not continue in any sin or folly. Don’t be like the dog that likes to eat its own vomit. Humbly ask God to deliver you from all temptation and evil. Believe that you can live righteous because when you were born again you were made righteous (2 Corinthians 5:21)!
Reflection
Action
- Identify any sins that you are tempted to do and ask God to lead you not into temptation, but to deliver you from all evil (Matthew 6:13).
- Believe that every time you face a temptation to sin, God will give you a way of escape (1 Corinthians 10:13).
- If you do sin, but quick to repent and ask Jesus to cleanse you from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).
