“Better a small serving of vegetables with love than a fattened calf with hatred.”
First and foremost Solomon is speaking directly to couples. He is telling them that a life in harmony and love with simple needs met is to be desired. He makes it clear that a life of abundance with out that kind of connection is awful. Solomon often writes contrasting one choice against the other. When he does this we get caught in the ‘either/or’ dichotomy. Very simply a dichotomy is ‘a division or contrast between two things that are or are represented as being opposed or entirely different’. The danger with seeing these as the only options is that it can cause many of us live under some kind of condemnation. It is very conceivable that, although Solomon leaves us with the person of means living in hatred and abundance and the one without surrounded by love, the opposite is often true. I know many people who live well that are kind, loving and very happy. We all know people of average resources or even less who are angry, bitter and unkind. He makes the point that if what you have creates issues of the heart it is better to not have it. More likely he is just reminding all of us that our state in life need not dictate our attitude. The one who rules our soul does. Be sure Christ is in charge and like Paul you will be able to say you have found contentment in all circumstances. Today live from the power of Christ within rather than the circumstances of life around you. #BeTheEdge
“I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.”Philippians 4:12 NIV