Proverbs 11:22

The book of Proverbs gives us insights into so many different areas of life. The book gives us instruction on how to live our lives for God. Here is a proverb that gives us insight about discretion: 

Proverbs 11:22 (ESV)

Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout

is a beautiful woman without discretion.

I am not sure what Solomon was looking at when he wrote this proverb.   Was he actually looking at a farmer’s pig who had a gold ring in its snout and thought how ridiculous it was, or, was he looking at beautiful women, decorated in fine jewelry and thought she was acting like a pig.  Both could conjure up a writer's pen to record this proverb.   How foolish would it be to put a gold ring, one of great value, in the nose of a pig?  It just wouldn't make any sense.  The pig would not know if he had a $1,000 ring or a 1¢ beer top tab.  He would wallow just the same.  But, it is equally true of the human spirit.  We don't realize the value of wisdom in our lives (of Christ) if we act like a pig and wallow in the mud of this world.   A "beautiful" women in this proverb could be the "saved" believer who has been given the wardrobe and jewelry of the King of Kings.   Yet, it does us little use if we continue to wallow in the muddy and vain world.   The rich man's son who wandered off found himself with the swine and finally woke up.   When we have the riches of the King in our soul, with no discretion, we act like that foolish son.  We eat the food of swine when our father has riches at his table that even the servants eat.   Either get the ring out of your nose or get the nose out of the mud.