“The leech has two daughters – Give and Give!” (Proverbs 30:15).

The leech is a type of worm.  Some are predators, feeding on other small invertebrates.  Some are ecto-parasites (parasites that live on the outside of their hosts).  A parasitic leech attaches itself to the skin of a host and feeds off its blood.  This is the leech of the proverb. 

“There are three things that are never satisfied, Four never say, ‘Enough!’: The grave, the barren womb, the earth that is not satisfied with water – And the fire never says, ‘Enough!’” (Proverbs 30:15-16).

Here are some examples of things which never seem satisfied.  (1) The grave (literally – sheol – the place of the dead).  It will take as many as it can.  It will never, on its own, say “enough.”  (2) The barren womb.  In Biblical times, women wanted children.  Many women were greatly troubled if they could not have a child (e.g. Genesis 25:21; 30:1; 1 Samuel 1:8-16).  (3) The earth.  As long as it stands, the hydrologic cycle will continue (Ecclesiastes 1:7 cf. 11:3).  It will never cease receiving water.  (4) Fire.  As long as conditions are present for fire to burn (heat, fuel, oxygen) then it will burn. It will never, on its own, say “enough.”

The proverb of the leech and the proverb of the four things never satisfied are related.  They both concern people.  Some people are takers and not givers.  Moreover, they never cease to take.  It is their manner of life.  It, of course, is true that we all are takers and givers in different circumstances of life.  However, a pattern of life is in view here.

Application for us: We should not be like the leech.  We should not always be taking.

Consider how Jesus lived.  He said, “the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and give His life a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28).  He “went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil” (Acts 10:38).  He said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). 

Let us try to contribute, give, and help in this life when and where we can.  This includes giving money (Ephesians 4:28).  However, it includes many other things as well.  It includes our time (Colossians 4:5).  It includes our words (1 Thessalonians 4:18; 5:11, 14).  “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith” (Galatians 6:10).  William Penn is credited with saying, “I expect to pass through life but once.  If therefore, there be any kindness I can show, or any good thing that I can do to any fellow being, let me do it now, and not defer or neglect it, as I shall not pass this way again.”