I have enjoyed studying through the book of Proverbs this month. It is a textbook on teaching principles regarding relationships, the battleground between good and evil, wisdom and foolishness, marriage, success, business, parenting, and our speech. What has caught my attention is that Solomon has a lot to say about the mouth of a fool in comparison to the mouth of a wise person. Here is where I admit I am not perfect and often lacking.
Solomon’s Description of a Fool’s Mouth in Proverbs 18:
Prov. 18:2: Takes no pleasure in understanding anyone else. Only interested in expressing his self-righteous opinion. Usually interrupts anyone else trying to interject into any discussion. A dominator.
Prov. 18:6: Speech walks right into a fight. His mouth invites being disciplined by God. Sins in his heart readily spew out of his mouth while verbally attacking others.
Prov. 18:7: Mischief words causes his harmful consequences. A fool has no one else to blame but himself. His words cause trouble and do not seek righteousness.
Prov. 18:13: Automatically replies without listening to the other person first. Very opinionated and self-righteous. Likes to intimidate others and wield power. Brings him shame and that is his fault.
I have a customer who is never wrong. She doesn’t answer my emails when I need information back from her, but when she needs answers to her questions, she is impatient, rude, and demanding. She will send those “second request” emails that I dread if I am not able to respond within a few minutes. However, she will not answer my phone calls and only communicates via email. She never says thank you after we have jumped through hoops to accommodate her demands. She is hard to please. She treats all of her suppliers this way. Don’t we all know people like that?
Solomon so vividly describes a foolish man’s leadership skills versus a wise person’s powers of discernment, prudence, and humility in working with others. Here is a summary description of what not to do taken from Proverbs 18:
- They don’t get the facts first before replying in conversations.
- Not open to new ideas.
- Do not hear both sides of a story before judging.
- Prejudices – judge before gathering all of the facts.
- Submission is not in their mindset.
- Bark out answers.
- Often caught in a prison of their past.
We all have done this from time to time – admit it. But when we are on the receiving end, it hurts. That is when I need to muster having grit and speak softly and realize I cannot fix everything. God simply requires obedience.
Questions:
How can you show wisdom, steadfastness, openness, and love, with those domineering and challenging types of people that rub you the wrong way?
Is winning an argument more important to you than recognizing the value and worth of a soul?
Proverbs 18:20 MSG depicts right words with the enjoyment of food: “Words satisfy the mind as much as fruit does the stomach; good talk is as gratifying as a good harvest.” Ice cream or a combination of chocolate and peanut butter come to my mind more than fruit, when picturing food that gives me pleasure. Oh, but any kind of berries are always good on ice cream – there’s fruit! Yum!
What memories do you have of being comforted? The right words of encouragement can help squelch feelings of anxiety and discouragement.
So go have a dish of your favorite ice cream and add strawberries and some chocolate sauce on top. Then pray for sweet words to come to your mind that will help someone feel good physically – not just psychologically and spiritually (Proverbs 16:21 & 24 and Proverbs 18:20), bridging the relationship between the mind and the body. Pure verbal comfort food hits the spot!
Listen to Matt Maher’s YouTube song “What A Friend (With Lyric Video).”