Archive for the ‘trust in the Lord with all your heart’ Category

Proverbs 06:09 Wisdom for the Soul

Posted: December 6, 2012 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Proverbs, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command

 Proverbs 6:9 How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep?

Sleep can be a dangerous thing, if you get too much of it, or if you like it too much. It is especially hazardous for young men, whom Solomon emphasized in writing Proverbs.

When do you get up? How do you get up? The time and manner in which you rise in the morning affects your success or failure in life. Great men get a head start on the day.

They attack every day as an opportunity, rather than dreading it as a punishment. There are other factors also, but love of your bed in the morning will squander your potential.

What a practical book! Those who think the Bible is irrelevant and an old theological dust collector have never read it. Solomon, the wisest and most successful king ever, knew the folly of youth and humanity, so he warned his son and you against loving sleep and sleeping too long (Pr 6:6-11; 10:5; 19:15; 20:13; 21:17; 23:21; 24:30-34).

Young men play hard and sleep hard. Since they have not had the weight of responsibility and burden of producing for a family, they will take every minute they can get under the covers before falling out and stumbling into a day. But they are not the only ones. Some older men think they deserve extra sleep because they have already worked hard in life.

Some women think they can make the day go away by staying in bed under warm covers. Cuddling with blankets helps them procrastinate and fantasize about not working. Instead they have fewer hours, less energy, and more to do when they get up. Young women, who play much of the day in today’s world, cannot imagine why they should ever get up.

“Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise,” is credited to Benjamin Franklin, though it was a saying before he was born. Mark Twain, who thought that rising before 9:30 was a terrible evil, ridiculed Ben’s proverb. But God and Solomon had given the inspired rules 3000 years before. An early approach does lead to wisdom (Pr 8:17). And an early approach does lead to wealth (Pr 6:9-11; 20:13; 24:33-34).

Are you tired in the morning? Then go to bed earlier. Sleeping during prime time will not only help you rise in the morning, but it will also save you from the worst that Hollywood offers. Do you not sleep well at night? Then get on a schedule and allow yourself less sleep. All other things being equal, a laboring man will sleep very peacefully (Eccl 5:12).

Is it hard to get up in the morning? Build a habit and routine that is good for you. A strict schedule and routine help most people. Do not use a snooze button on your alarm clock. When it is time to get up, then get up, right then. Immediately take a shower or apply water to your face in some other way. Wake up! Get up! Get dressed! Get going! Life is short, why waste it in bed!  You need a sense of time urgency to attack days (Eccl 9:10)!

The world has conspired against the wisdom here. Daylight saving time provides more time for playing in the evenings and less sunshine for rising in the mornings. If saving daylight is important, why not save it in the morning by moving the clocks back an hour? Men could get a day’s work done before lunch. But men would much rather play late.

The proverb has a definite limit. Night and sleep are part of God’s plan for men. In fact, He does not want you going without pleasant sleep, thinking that success depends mainly on your efforts (Ps 127:1). He expects you to only apply this proverb within reason, for any efforts beyond that are vain and worthless; He wants you to sleep (Ps 127:2)!

Getting up early and not sleeping too long are only part of life. Once you get up, what will you do? God commands you to have a good job and be diligent at it (Rom 12:11; Eph 4:28; I Thess 4:11-12). This is the main intent here so you can follow the example of the industrious ant (Pr 6:6-8)! After work you have your other duties – marriage, children, parents, church, finances, house, neighbors, nation, exercise, and so forth.

There is a better reason to rise early. You can seek the Lord and wisdom then. You are sharper (once fully awake!). There are fewer outside or mental distractions. You will be interrupted less. It puts the priority on God and wisdom. It prepares your soul for the day. And it is Scriptural (Ps 5:3; 55:17; 119:147). Reading your Bible, praying, and meditating before anything else is the way to a successful life (Job 23:12; Ps 19:7-11; 119:103,127).

Spiritual Training 06 December 2012

Posted: December 6, 2012 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Romans, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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(No one is Righteous) 

Romans 3:10-18 What shall we conclude then?  Are we any better?  Not at all! We have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under sin.  As it is written; “There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God.  All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.” “Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit.” “The poison of vipers is on their lips.” “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.” “Their feet are swift to shed blood; ruin and misery mark their ways, and the way of peace they do not know.” “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

Paul is referring to Psalm 14:1-3.  “There is no one righteous” means “no one is innocent.” Every person is valuable in God’s eyes because God created us in his image and he loves us.  But no one is righteous (that is, no one can earn right standing with God).  Though valuable, we have fallen into sin.  But God through Jesus his Son has redeemed us and others to forgive us if we return to him in faith.

Paul uses these OLD Testament references to show that humanity in general, in its present sinful condition, is unacceptable before God.  Have you ever thought to yourself, “Well, I’m not too bad.  I’m a pretty good person”?  Look at these verses and see if any of them apply to you.

 Lets Bring It Home: Look at these verses and see if any of them apply to you.  Have you ever lied? Have you ever hurt someone’s feelings by your words or tone of voice?  Are you bitter toward anyone?  Do you become angry with those who strongly disagree with you?  In thought, word and deed, you, like everyone else in the world, stand guilty before God.  We must remember who we are in his sight-alienated sinners.  Don’t deny that your are a sinner, instead, allow your desperate need to point you toward Christ.

 

Spiritual Training 05 December 2012

Posted: December 5, 2012 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Proverbs, Romans, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Romans 3:5-8 But if our unrighteousness brings out God’s righteousness more clearly, what shall we say?  That God is unjust in bringing his wrath on us?  (I am using a human argument.) Certainly not! If that were so, how could God judge the world?  Someone might argue, “If my falsehood enhances God’s truthfulness and so increases his glory, why am I still condemned as a sinner?  Why not say as we are being slanderously reported as saying and as some claim that we say, “Let us do evil that good may result” Their condemnation is deserved. 

Some may think they don’t have to worry about sin because

  1. It’s God’s job to forgive
  2. God is so loving that he won’t judge us
  3. Sin isn’t so bad-it teaches us valuable lessons, or
  4. We need to stay in touch with the culture around us.

Lets Bring it Home: It is for too easy to take God’s grace for granted.  But God cannot overlook sin.  Sinners, no matter how many excuses they make, will have to answer to God for their sin.

  

 

Proverbs 05:11 Wisdom for the Soul

Posted: December 5, 2012 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Proverbs, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Proverbs 5:11 – At the end of your life you will groan, when your flesh and body are spent.

Before it kills you, think about what you are doing! Before you are on your deathbed, examine your life. The world glorifies fornication, but they are going to death and hell. Are you wise enough to grasp the importance of questioning your actions before death?

Death sobers sinners, even fornicators. When a man is in health, he justifies his sins. He enjoys their pleasures, sees no evil consequences, and thinks he has much time for amending his ways. But the deathbed brings mourning, when he wishes he could go back and relive his life. Fornicators! Hate your sin now, before it consumes body, then soul!

If a man knew he would die today, fornication would be one of the farthest things from his mind. The brevity of life, finality of death, and reality of eternal judgment would keep his mind from such folly. He would be preparing his heart and soul to depart this world and meet the terrible Judge of all. Fornicators! How do you know you will not die today?

Solomon in this proverb is in the middle of a long sentence describing the consequences of fornication (Pr 5:8-14). His point here is the grief that will surely come at the hopeless and painful end of life, for sinning against all the instruction and wisdom of his teachers and guides. One of the warnings against sexual sin is to make a person think about dying.

Fornicators can die many ways. There is a great list of venereal or sexually transmitted diseases that ravage and consume human flesh in different ways and places. The painful wails and shrieks of the sufferers are terrible. But whether death comes directly or indirectly, the consequences are the same. You will grievously wish to relive your life.

What can a young man learn from this proverb? “It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart” (Eccl 7:2). Feasting, or partying, is the atmosphere and activity that leads to foolish thoughts and fornication. A funeral, however, will cause young men to consider the grave and righteous living, before it is too late. Where will you go today?

Solomon also wrote, “Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them” (Eccl 12:1). Painful days are coming in which you will regret your past. Your future is certain. You are going to die and give an account of your every secret thought and action. Think about it today! Think about it while you have ability and time to change your life.

Solomon, the inspired philosopher and preacher, concluded his analysis of life this way: “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil” (Eccl 12:13-14).

Every young man who repents and puts his trust in the perfect Man Christ Jesus can face that final day with joy and peace in believing, for unspeakable glory waits in heaven. Even if he foolishly sinned by fornication in the past, there is full forgiveness for the truly repentant, for Jesus was tempted in every youthful way, but without sin (Heb 4:14-16).

Proverbs 04:11 Wisdom for the Soul

Posted: December 5, 2012 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Proverbs, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Proverbs 4:11 I guide you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths. 

Fathers! Mothers! Consider this confident and noble parent. What a claim! Can you speak as boldly and virtuously as Solomon about the instruction you gave your children?

Read the proverb again. Will you be able to say these words at the end of your life? Can you say them today? Will God and your children agree with you? What have you done for your children today? God’s blessing and your children’s success depend on it.

Have you taught your children how to have a long and prosperous life (Pr 4:10)?  Have you taught them how to avoid the distractions, troubles, and traps of life (Pr 4:12)?  Mothers, you are not exempted from this privilege and duty (Pr 1:8; 4:3; 6:20; 31:1-2).

The proverb has three lessons – the duty, content, and confidence of good parenting and teaching. Read Solomon’s words, and see all three lessons, and purpose to apply the lessons today. You must teach; you must teach right things; you must do it confidently!

Graduating from high school or getting a college degree does not impress God, nor does it help children much. Many pagans have college degrees, and most college graduates are pagans. Only 1% of the saints in history even thought of going to college. These humanistic and worldly goals of the N.E.A. are foreign to Heaven and true success! The excellent spirit of Daniel and the unfeigned faith of Timothy are what you must cultivate!

The “way of wisdom” and “right paths” are contrary to a liberal arts education. These things, which lead to pleasing God and man in life, are no longer taught. The scope and sequence of today’s schools is a curriculum from hell to make little humanists. Parents, you must teach godly wisdom and true knowledge at home. The pastor is not responsible, for a few hours a week does not come close to the daily instruction of faithful parents.

Are your children gracious? Diligent at work? With high energy and focus? With sterling character? With financial wisdom? Do they hate sin? Being late? Injustice? Are they socially skilled? Good communicators? Considerate and generous? Do they know the gospel? Answers for common questions? How to solve problems Biblically?

Is their word as good as gold? Are they merciful and forgiving? Wise and prudent? Holy and pure? Are they esteemed in the real world? Are their names honored? Do they have many friends? Do they care about others? Even those that cannot repay in any way? Do they serve the kingdom of heaven? Willing to do anything for the church at anytime?

Parent, are you confident like the father in this proverb? God did not give you the truth for you to apologize for it or minimize it. Read Job 32 and see the godly confidence of young Elihu. You must be bold, dogmatic, and critical, for Satan and the world are in their efforts to oppose you and abolish truth. You have the only and final answers, and you should say so. You should reject anything to the contrary (Ps 119:128; Is 8:20).

Fathers, what will you give your family tonight? Read a chapter of Proverbs and explain one verse to them. One such small point each day will soon form a mountain of wisdom. If you do not believe this, watch the ants in your yard (Pr 6:6-11)! Done every day, you can speak boldly like Solomon. It is for God’s blessing and your children’s success.

The lesson here is not a suggestion for fathers – it is a commandment (Eph 6:4). Let every man fulfill his charge from Heaven, and let him see the future with the eye of faith.  A godly seed to God’s glory, the defense of the faith, and the happiness of your family is well worth it. Consider the duty, the content, and the confidence of teaching – and do it!

Spiritual Training 03 December 2012

Posted: December 3, 2012 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Romans 2:28-29 A man is not a Jew if he is only one outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical.  No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the spirit, not by the written code.  Such a man’s praise is not from men, but from God. 

To be a Jew meant you were in God’s family, an heir to all his promises.  Yet Paul made it clear that membership in God’s family is based on internal, not external, qualities.  All whose hearts are right with God are real Jews-that is, part of God’s family.

Lets Bring it Home: Attending church or being baptized, confirmed or accepted for membership is not enough; just as submitting to circumcision was not enough for the Jews.  God desires our heart felt devotion and obedience.

Proverbs 3:3 Wisdom for the Soul

Posted: December 3, 2012 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Proverbs, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Proverbs 3:3

Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. 

Love and faithfulness are important character qualities.  Both involve actions as well as attitudes.  A loving person not only feels love; he or she also acts loyally and responsibly.  A faithful person not only believes the truth; he or she also works for justice for others.  Thoughts and words are not enough.  Our lives should reveal whether we are truly loving and faithful.  We all should be asking ourselves, do our actions measure up to our attitudes?

Mercy and truth mark perfection. It is wonderful when they meet (Ps 85:10). They lead to favor and good understanding with God and men (Pr 3:4). By neglect and sin they are lost, so they must be carefully guarded and applied. See the comments on Proverbs 16:6.

We cannot literally bind mercy and truth about the neck. They are character traits of wisdom and the Holy Spirit and not subject to string, rope, or chains! The metaphor describes tight attachment to a person’s outward life. Neither can we literally write them upon the table of the heart. Another metaphor describes committing them to our affection and memory. Wise men are dedicated to mercy and truth on the inside and outside.

Mercy and truth appear to be opposites, but it is their combination that makes a man perfect. Mercy is that gentle, forgiving, gracious, and overlooking trait of noble men, who gladly take personal injury rather than fight or hurt someone in their power. Truth is the stubborn commitment to whatever is honest and right, regardless of cost. Together they balance each other gloriously, resulting in the gentle and honest life of a true saint.

Parent, children should be taught to love mercy. It is your duty to teach them the glory of forgiving and overlooking personal offences (Pr 19:11; Matt 5:38-42). Kindness and tenderheartedness should be emphasized. You should teach them to love their enemies, as our Lord and Stephen did (Pr 24:17-18; 25:21-22). Sibling rivalry will create almost daily opportunities for your lessons. Mercy does not tolerate unjustified anger, envy, hatred, malice, railing, whispering, and similar sins. Teach tender compassion toward all men.

Parent, children should be taught to love truth. It is your duty to teach them the final authority of God’s Word and the glory of perfect honesty and integrity in all their dealings. Absolute honesty is a wonderful thing (Pr 12:22; 16:11; 17:7; Rom 12:17). Lying in any form should be punished severely. Truth does not tolerate exaggeration, hypocrisy, lying, slandering, and other related deceptions. It keeps all promises as given.

Mercy and truth are essential components of wisdom. They do not literally forsake men, but the inherent depravity we have from Adam causes us to forsake them! The rule of wisdom here is to love and remember these two pillars of godly conduct in all situations.

The blessed Lord Jesus had the perfect balance of mercy and truth. No man was more compassionate, even to enemies; no man was stricter about the truth, though it cost Him His life. He forgave easily and quickly, yet He is called Faithful and True (Rev 19:11).


 

ROMANS 2:21-27 WHEN YOU TEACH OTHERS, DO YOU NOT TEACH YOURSELF?

Posted: November 30, 2012 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Practice what you preach, Romans, Spiritual Training, Teachers, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Under Gods Command
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Romans 2:21-27 you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal?  You who say that people should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?  You who brag about the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law? As it is written. “God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentles because of you. 

Those of us who have grown up in Christian families are the religiously privileged of today.  Paul’s condemnation applies to us if we do not live up to what we know.  Paul explained to the Jews that they need to teach themselves, not others, by their law.  They know the law so well that they had learned how to excuse their own actions while criticizing others.

Lets Bring it Home: We face this today in our daily walk.  We need to remember that we cannot please God without a proper relationship with him.  As Jesus pointed out, even withholding what rightfully belongs to someone else is stealing, and looking on another persons with lustful, adulterous intent is adultery. Before we accused others, we must look at ourselves and see if that sin, in any form, exists within us. If we claim to be one of God’s people, our life should reflect what God is like.  When you disobey God, you dishonor his name.  People may even blaspheme or profane God’s name because of you.  What do people think about God from watching your life?

Proverbs 30:12 Wisdom for the Soul

Posted: November 30, 2012 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Proverbs, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Proverbs 30:12 Those who are pure in their own eyes and yet are not cleansed of their filth 

The prophet Agur taught inspired wisdom for your life by sets of four things (Pr 30:11-31). He began with four kinds of people, identified by particular sins. Most men are self-righteous to varying degrees, but some who are exceptionally haughty in their religious arrogance. They are pure in their own eyes, and yet they are not washed from their sins.

Generation here means a kind of person, for it lacks demonstrative pronouns or other modifiers for a period of time. It is not a prophecy of the future, when men would be become haughty, for all ages have had such. It is not a prophecy of bad men in Christ’s time, for such a use would be unique in Proverbs and without practical wisdom for life.

The four generations are more than four temperament types – gloomy, placid, upbeat, and choleric – though each has sinful tendencies. The lesson here is beyond disposition: it is four kinds of people with specific sins. Rather than assign temperaments to each generation, learn the sin and the corrective wisdom of each kind of person.

The second generation, or kind of evil person, is self-righteous about his own purity. He, or she, has a haughty heart toward God’s word, presuming that it does not apply to him. Confident in his own wisdom and standard of holiness, he looks down on others as inferior and lords it over them in speech and conduct. He feels God is obligated to accept him and will most certainly do so. He sees no need for self-examination or repentance.

What is self-righteousness? It is a woman despising an adulteress, while defrauding her husband six nights a week (I Cor 7:1-5). It is a fool thinking a sermon about the tongue is for others (II Cor 13:5). It is an obese woman eating two desserts, yet condemning the use of wine (Luke 21:34). It is an odious woman refusing to learn graciousness (Pr 27:22). It is a haughty boy ridiculing a warning and denying it could happen to him (I Cor 10:12).

It is Simon the Pharisee despising the sinful woman at Jesus’ feet (Luke 7:36-50). It is the Pharisee thanking God he is not as bad as the publican (Luke 18:9-14). It is the Jews condemning the man born blind and his parents (John 9:13-34). It is a man who will not say he is sorry, even when proven wrong. It is boasting of knowing God, but unable to get along with others. It is saying the Spirit taught you and you do not need the Bible.

There are lessons to be discovered by study (Pr 1:6). The world has always had haughty and self-righteous people. What should you learn? There are at least five lessons: God hates self-righteousness; He only accepts the humble; you must learn to hate this sin; you must avoid any tendency toward it; and you must train it thoroughly out of your children.

God hates the self-righteous. He condemned proud Jews saying, “I am holier than thou” (Is 65:1-7). Jesus blasted the religious leaders of his day for self-righteousness (Luke 16:15; 18:9-14). They had perverted God’s law by false definitions (Luke 10:25-37), and they despised sinners (Luke 7:36-50). Jesus did not come for the self-righteous, and He expected His disciples to exceed their pitiful standards (Matt 5:20; Mark 2:15-17).

God loves the poor in spirit – those broken and contrite for their sins and sinfulness (Ps 34:18; 51:16-17; 138:6; Is 57:15; 66:2). Jesus came into this world to save sinners, and Paul admitted he was chief among them (I Tim 1:15). God resists the proud, but He gives grace to the humble (I Pet 5:5-6). The poor in spirit are blessed heirs of heaven (Mat 5:3). If you come to Jesus Christ any other way, He will not receive you (Mark 2:17).

You must hate self-righteousness, for it is a very damning sin. Once allowed into your thinking, you will reject the very correction and instruction you need to please God, for you will believe you are free from serious faults (Pr 26:12; Gal 6:3). You will resent parents or pastors who try to correct, rebuke, teach, or warn you. You must become a fool, admit you are nothing, and despise your own heart (Jer 17:9; I Cor 3:18; Eph 3:8).

You cannot afford any self-deception in this matter. You are a sinner, with sinful desires, and sinful tendencies. Therefore, you must apply all preaching and teaching to yourself, not to others. The hypocrite who wants to remove the speck from another’s eye while having a beam in his own has a severe problem with self-righteousness (Matt 7:3-5). You must dread the very thought of hardening your heart against instruction (Pr 28:14).

Train your children to be humble, broken over sin, and contrite for faults. If you do not, they will become adults with self-righteous conceit that will destroy them. They will reject instruction, look down on others, and provoke the Lord to be their enemy. Exalt God’s holy standards and teach them self-criticism and self-examination more than self-esteem. Teach them that without God’s grace through Jesus Christ they are totally lost.

Opposite the proverb’s words, there is a generation very filthy in their own eyes, and yet they are washed entirely pure from all their filth – those who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ – the elect of God. Jesus washed them from their sins in His own blood (Rev 1:5; 7:14; I Cor 6:11). Have you found the fountain that was opened in Jerusalem for sin and uncleanness (Zech 13:1)? It is found by faith in Jesus the Son of God (John 3:18).

Proverbs 29:11 Wisdom for the Soul

Posted: November 29, 2012 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Proverbs, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Proverbs 29:11- A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control.

You do not have to say everything right now. Slow down! There is a time to hold back speech to yourself – there is a time to talk and tell all. Wise men know what to do before speaking and when to speak, but fools spill everything without preparation or thought.

Fools talk a lot. They cannot keep their mouths shut. Any little thought, no matter how frivolous, no matter how unstudied, no matter how inappropriate, has to come rushing out. But a wise man speaks carefully. He does not speak hastily, or without study, or offer opinions as truth. He rules his mouth to choose wise words and wait for the right timing.

A talker is a fool. If he talks arrogantly, hastily, or loudly, he has confirmed his folly even more. A fool loves the sound of his own voice, and he thinks others should love it also. He thinks he has wisdom to share, and he thinks others are blessed to hear him. So he gets angry when he is eventually isolated due to his ignorant and obnoxious speech.

Solomon said there is a time for everything: “A time to keep silence, and a time to speak” (Eccl 3:7). But knowing the right time requires discretion and prudence, two branches of wisdom the fool has never considered. As long as he has air to breathe (and a full belly helps), he will vent his pea-sized brain through his lips (Pr 30:22; Eccl 10:12-14).

If a fool could keep his mouth shut, he might be thought wise (Pr 17:27-28). But he cannot do it, for he has never held back words in his life: he has no will nor power to do so. He must pour out foolish ideas in the hope of satisfying his agitated conceit, but it will never happen; when he runs out of things to say, he keeps talking anyway (Pr 15:2).

There is nothing virtuous about being “outspoken.” It is merely another word for a fool! It would be much better to keep those words in and let them dissolve in the bile of your liver and go into the draught. It would be much better to ask the Lord to set a watch before your mouth and to keep the door of your lips (Ps 141:3). Do not speak out!

Many things – idle words, filthiness, foolish talking, jesting, backbiting, talebearing, and slander – should not be spoken (Pr 10:18; 11:13; 25:23; Matt 12:36; Eph 5:3-5). And many words raise the probability of sin (Pr 10:19; Eccl 5:3). How much damage and pain could have been avoided by restraining your words (Pr 12:18)? Therefore, the fewer, and more carefully chosen, and more slowly spoken, are your words, the better (Jas 1:19)!

A fool’s wrath is quickly known, for he cannot keep his angry words in (Pr 12:16). A fool pours out unstudied nonsense, and worse yet, his personal opinions; but a righteous man studies before answering anything (Pr 12:23; 13:16; 15:28). A fool shows his folly and shame by answering a matter even before hearing it fully presented (Pr 18:13). He cannot rule his spirit, and thus proves himself a failure and loser among men (Pr 16:32; 25:28).

Wise men restrain their speech (Pr 17:27-28). They study before answering (Pr 15:28). They are slow to speak (Jas 1:19). They choose their words carefully and wait for the right time to say them (Pr 15:23; 24:26; 25:11). Discretion and prudence are the guardians of wisdom – they restrain words and actions until you grasp a situation clearly and can wisely choose a godly response (Pr 12:23; 13:16; 14:8; 16:21; 19:11; 22:3).

Wise men keep words in “till afterwards”! After what? After they let passion dissipate and can speak prudently (Pr 19:11; Jas 1:19). After they apply Scripture to the situation and find the godly, charitable response (Ps 119:11; I Cor 13:4-7). After they have studied for an answer with the certain words of truth (Pr 15:28; 22:17-21). After they have sanctified the Lord God in their hearts (I Pet 3:15). After they have heard a matter in its entirety, and someone has sincerely asked for their response (Pr 18:13; 25:6-7).

Samson uttered all his heart, and it cost him greatly; he could not resist the provocation of Delilah to open up and spill the beans (Judges 16:17). Yet Abigail, a beautiful woman of good understanding, waited for the right time to give her husband some bad news (I Sam 25:36). The Lord told Samuel to answer Saul only part of his mind (I Sam 16:1-3); and when in court, Paul declared only part of his relationship to the Pharisees (Acts 23:6).

Christians, to be wise and avoid folly, are to be circumspect in their conduct – inspecting all the circumstances in every direction (Eph 5:15). Their words are to be predominantly gracious, with only a seasoning of salt; and the purpose is always to be edifying (Eph 4:29; Col 4:6). Can you keep from uttering all your mind today? Can you wait until you have the right words and the right opportunity to say them? Help, O Lord.

 

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