Proverbs 20.25 says, it is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy, and after vows to make inquiry. This proverb basically warns against two terrible sins that have been a constant snare to men since the time of the flood of Noah. Number one, devouring that which is holy, and number two, after making vows to make inquiry. So what do each of those warnings mean? Well, we'll look at the first one this time. Our text says, Men devour that which is holy in order to then use what is holy for their own purposes and gain. One of the most clear examples of this in the Bible would be Simon the sorcerer in Acts chapter 8. Simon sees the apostles performing signs and wonders and decides he wants to devour this work of the Holy Ghost. And we're told in Acts 8 verses 18 to 21, And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands he may receive the Holy Ghost. But Peter said unto him, thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter, for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. Peter immediately rebuked Simon and minced no words in saying in verses 22 and 23, repent therefore of this thy wickedness and pray God if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity. And to his credit, Acts 8.24 says, then answered Simon and said, pray ye to the Lord for me that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me. But sadly for him, his name, Simon, became known throughout history in association with this act of devouring the holy for personal manipulation and gain. It's called simony. Throughout the history of the papacy, there are dozens of known examples of unsaved wicked men paying money to become pope. Others simply paid large sums to become a cardinal or to buy a position in the Roman Catholic cult for a son or a nephew or an illegitimate child that's referred to as a nephew. Sadly, we've seen the true churches of Jesus Christ led by men like Simon who sell out to serve a particular political party. Many pastors have adopted a particular Bible version in order to gain influence, while some preachers get a kickback on sales as they promote a particular corrupt new Bible version. The examples I could give seem endless, but I hope you're getting the point. They want to devour that which is holy in order to make personal gain. It can happen on a small scale as well. Men are placed on the boards of deacons of small churches and large. Board of Elders, if that's what they're called there, but it's because of their money and their influence. Even Sunday schools are staffed by unqualified people who are given positions because they want to pad their resumes as they're known to have money or stature in the community. Jimmy Carter is an example of that at his church down in Georgia. But it's a snare. It hurts the one devouring that which is holy, It gives them a false sense of spirituality, and it produces bad fruit in whatever church or ministry in which it happens. Romans 16, 18 says, for they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. Let's avoid having such a thing on our resumes. Let us serve the Lord out of charity and not a desire for personal gain. Don't devour the holy for your own use. In the words of 1 Timothy 1.5, now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned. Bible believers serve the Lord simply because we love the Lord.