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In Christ, Mark
The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
The wise in heart accept commands, but a chattering fool comes to ruin.
The wise store up knowledge, but the mouth of a fool invites ruin.
A fool’s mouth lashes out with pride, but the lips of the wise protect them.
The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge, but the mouth of the fool gushes folly.
The lips of the wise spread knowledge, but the hearts of fools are not upright.
The discerning heart seeks knowledge, but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly.
The wise in heart are called discerning, and gracious words promote instruction.
The hearts of the wise make their mouths prudent, and their lips promote instruction.
The lips of fools bring them strife, and their mouths invite a beating.
The mouths of fools are their undoing, and their lips are a snare to their very lives.
The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, for the ears of the wise seek it out.
Proverbs 10:8, 10:14, 14:3, 15:2, 15:7, 15:14, 16:21, 16:23, 18:6, 18:7, 18:15
This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.
NOTE: From Proverbs, Chapter 10 through Chapter 22:16, Solomon writes a series of individual proverbs for us to consider. I will try and group similar proverbs in my devotions as I cover what Solomon wrote over these chapters.
The words of David, a man after God’s own heart, always seem to ring in my mind as I go into my daily interactions with others:
May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. Psalm 19:14
Think about the number of words you speak each and every day. Typically, it’s an amazing number and we take it for granted because having dialogue with others is part of the human experience. It’s as natural as breathing and walking.
Yes, we talk a lot, transmitting volumes of words each and every day. These words can work for the betterment of others, influencing, transforming, instructing, comforting, encouraging, and loving those we share them with. They also have the ability to slander, deceive, hate, hurt, damage, and destroy.
Indeed, there is a lot at stake when it comes to the words we use and how we use them. We need to watch our mouths and what comes out of them, praying each and every day for the Lord to help guide our words so that the end result becomes speech that is pleasing in His sight. A person who has divine wisdom does just that.
Solomon had a lot to say about wise speech and the detriments that come when one talks foolishly. Let’s look at this series of Proverbs:
The wise in heart accept commands, but a chattering fool comes to ruin. Proverbs 10:8
The wise store up knowledge, but the mouth of a fool invites ruin. Proverbs 10:14
A fool’s mouth lashes out with pride, but the lips of the wise protect them. Proverbs 14:3
The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge, but the mouth of the fool gushes folly. Proverbs 15:2
The lips of the wise spread knowledge, but the hearts of fools are not upright. Proverbs 15:7
The discerning heart seeks knowledge, but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly. Proverbs 15:14
The wise in heart are called discerning, and gracious words promote instruction. Proverbs 16:21
The hearts of the wise make their mouths prudent, and their lips promote instruction. Proverbs 16:23
The lips of fools bring them strife, and their mouths invite a beating. Proverbs 18:6
The mouths of fools are their undoing, and their lips are a snare to their very lives. Proverbs 18:7
The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, for the ears of the wise seek it out. Proverbs 18:15
Note here that there are only two modes that we can be in when we speak. We’re either speaking wisely or we’re speaking foolishly. We should look at each and assess where we stand when it comes to the dialogue we’re sharing with others.
Are you speaking foolishly?
- You are if your words bring ruin on others or yourself.
A chattering fool comes to ruin.
The mouth of a fool invites ruin.
The mouths of fools are their undoing, and their lips are a snare to their very lives.
- You are if your words reflect arrogance, conceit, or egotism.
A fool’s mouth lashes out with pride.
- You are if your words are imprudent or thoughtless.
The mouth of the fool gushes folly.
The mouth of a fool feeds on folly.
- You are if your words are sinful.
The hearts of fools are not upright.
- You are if your words have brought you hardship.
The lips of fools bring them strife.
Conversely, you know you will be speaking in wisdom if the following apply:
- Your words show obedience to the Lord’s commands.
The wise in heart accept commands.
- Your words show knowledge and specifically, knowledge of how life should be lived righteously in the Lord’s favor. This knowledge is gained by consistent and persistent communion with the word of the Lord so that His words are reflected in yours.
The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, for the ears of the wise seek it out.
The wise store up knowledge.
The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge.
The lips of the wise spread knowledge.
The discerning heart seeks knowledge.
- Your words sometimes are used to help bail out someone who has spoken foolishly.
A fool’s mouth lashes out with pride, but the lips of the wise protect them.
- Your words reflect a loving grace and mercy which leads others to seek you and learn from you.
Gracious words promote instruction.
Their (the wise) lips promote instruction.
- Your words show you are discerning in a way that models discretion.
The wise in heart are called discerning.
The hearts of the wise make their mouths prudent.
In the end translation, the word of God makes it clear. There’s no doubt that the words we use carry a lot of power and thus we should be careful how we wield them.
So how do you rate? If others were asked, would they say your speech is wise or foolish?
Maybe a better question yet is, “What would God say?”
Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
Send any prayer requests to ourchristianwalk@aol.com
Send any prayer requests to ourchristianwalk@aol.com
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