Pro 11:15 | KingComments | STEP | “Guidance” is essential to the stability of a nation ( ). Guidance can be compared to steering a ship. That ship here is the people, the nation. The ancient expression ‘the ship of state’ indicates that. The comparison is made because even a ship depends for its safety on the leadership of a captain who must be knowledgeable in the matter. Without people at the helm of ‘the ship of state’ who are competent to guide the people, a ship sinks, that is, “the people fall”. But “in abundance of counselors”, by many men who are able to guide in all kinds of fields, “victory” comes out of the distress and the people are saved from destruction. This also applies to the people of God, of which the local church is a representation. Consultation under prayer and using God’s Word is necessary to be a church where the Lord Jesus can be in the midst. When discussing in Jerusalem the contentious question of whether the nations should keep the law, a saving answer was arrived at through the contributions of several wise counselors ( ). A financially sound policy requires not making opaque financial commitments. One such opaque obligation is being “guarantor for a stranger” ( ). Being guarantor or surety is an extremely foolish thing to do (cf. ), especially if it is done for a stranger. Solomon is very clear in his warning here: whoever is guarantor “will surely suffer for it”. He who is guarantor guarantees the other that he will pay his debt if the other defaults, while he is without any guarantee that the other will repay him. This can lead to his bankruptcy and beggary. The contradiction in the second line of verse underscores how dangerous it is to be guarantor. It is about nothing less than “secure”, carefree, living. This is the perspective of him “who hates being a guarantor” or “who hates to strike hands” as it is literally said. To strike hands is to confirm an agreement, which is what we do today, among other things, by signing. Never sign or give any kind of endorsement until you fully know what you are committing yourself to with your signature or endorsement.

‏ Proverbs 11:15

Wise Counsel – Don’t Be Guarantor

“Guidance” is essential to the stability of a nation (Pro 11:14). Guidance can be compared to steering a ship. That ship here is the people, the nation. The ancient expression ‘the ship of state’ indicates that. The comparison is made because even a ship depends for its safety on the leadership of a captain who must be knowledgeable in the matter. Without people at the helm of ‘the ship of state’ who are competent to guide the people, a ship sinks, that is, “the people fall”. But “in abundance of counselors”, by many men who are able to guide in all kinds of fields, “victory” comes out of the distress and the people are saved from destruction.

This also applies to the people of God, of which the local church is a representation. Consultation under prayer and using God’s Word is necessary to be a church where the Lord Jesus can be in the midst. When discussing in Jerusalem the contentious question of whether the nations should keep the law, a saving answer was arrived at through the contributions of several wise counselors (Acts 15:1-29).

A financially sound policy requires not making opaque financial commitments. One such opaque obligation is being “guarantor for a stranger” (Pro 11:15). Being guarantor or surety is an extremely foolish thing to do (cf. Pro 6:1-6), especially if it is done for a stranger. Solomon is very clear in his warning here: whoever is guarantor “will surely suffer for it”. He who is guarantor guarantees the other that he will pay his debt if the other defaults, while he is without any guarantee that the other will repay him. This can lead to his bankruptcy and beggary.

The contradiction in the second line of verse underscores how dangerous it is to be guarantor. It is about nothing less than “secure”, carefree, living. This is the perspective of him “who hates being a guarantor” or “who hates to strike hands” as it is literally said. To strike hands is to confirm an agreement, which is what we do today, among other things, by signing. Never sign or give any kind of endorsement until you fully know what you are committing yourself to with your signature or endorsement.