Weekly Proverb 12

[Sorry we missed last week]

The barterer boasts about a bargain buy 20:14 It’s no good, it’s no good! says the buyer; then off he goes and boasts about his purchase
Now we are in the market place. The bargain hunter is pointing out the faults of the item he wants to buy. He is apparently very unimpressed with the salesman’s claims. When he gets the item home, however, he boasts about his bargain buy. The retail system in this country is not favourable to bartering but I remember how my mother would always ask for something to be knocked off the price if she found a shop-soiled item and there is a little leeway for barter even in the High Street.

This is an observational proverb and so we are not given any firm help on where such shrewd practice becomes sinful (deliberately damaging goods is an obvious no-no). No doubt the seller is well aware of what is going on and has purposely set his original price high. The main lesson is again not to be superficial and not to take everything people say at face value. Perhaps we can more specifically learn that criticisms are often made from envy. An English proverb says that he who speaks ill of the mare would buy her. It is sometimes in a man’s interest to downplay something in order to manoeuvre himself into a position to take it. It is not unknown for a company to talk down the share price of a rival company only to swoop in and to buy it. It is also one reason why unbelievers at one and the same time both oppose and desire Christian faith. 'It's rubbish' they say 'but I really admire your faith'!

From the other side, there is the warning to professing Christians of Hebrews 12:16 See that no-one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son.