Just a Thought! - 30 July 2012

"The tongue of the righteous is as choice silver, the heart of the wicked is worth little. The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for lack of understanding." (Proverbs 10:20-21)

As we continue our journey through the book of Proverbs, we see that our speech is a topic that is covered quite extensively in the book. After looking at controlling our tongue and not speaking without first thinking about whether or not it is wise to speak, we now look at the next important aspect of our speech, that being the content of what we say.

A Walking Encyclopaedia

Have you ever met a person who seems to be a walking encyclopaedia? No matter what subject you are talking about they seem to have a trivial comment or piece of knowledge about the subject that to you seems totally useless? Whether it be the weather, sport, or politics, they are able to tell you something trivial and insignificant about the subject that really has no real bearing on the discussion or is in the least bit interesting?

Or what about the person who always seems to bring themselves into the subject? You make a comment about the weather or discuss devastating floods in another part of the world and then they turn it around and tell you a story about how they were once trapped somewhere as a result of floods? Or you comment about a how good a meal was and they tell you how they once cooked a Christmas feast for a hundred people?

These kinds of people often speak on subjects that have little or no interest to us and they seem oblivious to that fact. It would be rude to tell them to keep quiet. Rather we need to be humble, listen to them and respond appropriately. However, we need to be on guard to not allow ourselves to fall into the same trap.

Speak Wisdom

The encouragement from our verses in Proverbs above tell us that the tongue of a godly person is like choice silver. Silver is not a metal that one would find just lying on the ground. One first has to locate iron ore deposits, which are then mined. That iron ore then goes through one of two processes, smelting or chemical leaching, in order for the silver to be extracted.

This process takes time, and the amount of silver extracted from the ore is so small compared to the size of the original pieces of iron ore that it is extracted from, but the silver that is extracted is 99.9% pure. One requires patience, skill and knowledge to extract the silver.

The same is true of our words. We must not just blurt out things thinking that other people will find what we have to say as interesting as we do. We need to refine what we say, testing our own words to make sure that we are speaking wisdom to other people, wisdom that is as pure as possible. And, as with choice silver, the one who speaks this way is rare. You will not find these kinds of people wherever you go. Many prefer to speak of themselves, or at least of subjects that interest them.

From the Heart

Think about the words that you are using. Are they hurtful, selfish, demeaning or trivial? Do they destroy or do they build up? And think also about the subject matter. Do you use gossip or slander other people, criticising everything others say and do? Or do you seek to encourage others and lovingly help them along life's path?

And as you think about your speech, think about Jesus' words in Matthew 12:34, "For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart." The things you talk about, the words you use, are all a reflection of what is going on in your heart. They reflect the god that you serve. If you speak more of self or only about what interests you, then you are serving self. But if you speak to build others up and are speaking the truths of God's Word, then you are showing others that you truly desire to worship the Almighty God. How pure is your silver?

Just a Thought!

© 2012

Just a Thought! - 23 July 2012

"When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise."

(Proverbs 10:19)

Along with wise counsel of the kind of people that we should and should not be associating with, the book of Proverbs is full of good advise about various issues about how we should be living our lives. The first section we will deal with concerns the tongue.

Wildfires

Have you ever had the experience of being anywhere near a wildfire? I am not talking about the small fires you may see burning alongside the highway every now and then during winter, but rather the violent, destructive wildfires that destroy whole forests, kill animals, and even burn down people's homes? The kind of fires that you see now and then on the news and on movies where people's lives are destroyed as a result.

Anyone who has been involved in one of those fires will tell you that they are frightening experiences. I remember when I was a young boy, my dad and I were staying on a farm in Northern Kwazulu Natal, and one night, a major fire started on a neighbouring farm. For me the experience was not that scary, not only because it seemed rather exciting as I was very young at the time, but also because I knew that it could not harm me. If it came closer to the farm house, we would just pack our suitcases into the boot of the car and drive off.

But for the owner of the farm, his family and staff, it was a matter of great concern. They rushed out in their bakkies and raced to the fire to assist their neighbour, because if they did not, the fire would more than likely have started to burn on their farm too and destroy their crops and livestock.

The Bible tells us that unwise words can cause the same type of devastation as a wildfire (see James 3:5). The words from our mouths, if we are not careful to guard them, can destroy people, instil fear and cause people to hate and bear grudges towards others.

Rather Say Nothing

Some people certainly could talk the hind-quarters off a mammoth. They seem to have something to say about anything and everybody. When something happens, or a person makes a comment, they seem to burst forth with a monologue that can put Shakespeare to shame.

However, as our verse above indicates, when we do that we are opening ourselves up to bad speech. When we speak without thinking, it is so easy to say something that we wish we had not said. We could say hurtful things or things that we never really meant to say.

But why does this happen? Jesus gave the answer in Matthew 12:34, "For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart." There is a direct link between what is in our hearts, and what we say. And since we are born with a sinful heart, and our hearts are not yet perfect even though we may be saved, sinful speech will follow.

What is needed is self control. We need to regularly put guards on our speech and make sure that we do not say things that could be harmful to others. The self-control begins in our hearts. We need to put the brain into gear before we engage the tongue. We need to learn to say nothing. And when we do speak, to make sure that what we are saying is not from a selfish attitude or is something that is going to cause destruction. There will be times when we need to say something to someone as a means of correction or rebuke, but we need to heed the advice in Ephesians 4:15 and to speak that truth in love. After all, love does not seek to destroy, but to build up.

As the saying goes, "It is better to be quiet and be considered a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt."

Just a Thought!

© 2012

Just a Thought! - 16 July 2012

"He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm." (Proverbs 13:20).

Over the last few weeks, through the book of Proverbs, we have been seeing the kinds of people and things in our lives that we are to be avoiding. This time let us look at life from the other perspective and see who we should rather be associating with, and what should be filling our lives. The answer is obvious, but is often overlooked or ignored.

Wise Company

When you look at the verse above, you see that Solomon does not say that by hanging around with fools makes you a fool yourself, no, he takes it further than that. He says that by associating with fools, one will suffer harm. Think of this in a parenting situation. As a parent, would you tell your teenage son not to hang out with the drug addicts and bullies of the school simply because by doing so he will become a fool? No. Rather you would encourage him to avoid them because their behaviour and attitude will influence him to the extent that he will become like them, and that it could lead to hardship for him as well. This is exactly what the second half of our verse is saying - by being a companion of fools, you will become like them and suffer the same hardships, if not worse.

However, as the first half of the verse tells us, it is better that we associate with those wiser than ourselves. It is like telling your teenage son to rather be friends with other teenagers at church or family friends who you as a parent know well because they will have a better influence on him. We too need to have wise people that we can look up to so that we can be influenced in a positive way by them.

God's Wisdom

The best place to find wisdom and to be influenced correctly is by spending time in the Bible. Psalm 119 is full of references to the wisdom and positive outcomes of studying and following God's law, of which verses 97-100 sum up what I am saying:

"O how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day. Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies, for they are ever mine. I have more insight than all my teachers, for Your testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the aged, because I have observed Your precepts."

The best friend we could have to influence us in the way we should live is God and His Word, the Bible. The writer of Psalm 119 clearly understood this.

Good Associations

The wise warnings in the book of Proverbs tell us to stay away from those things that so easily destroy us. To keep away from the edge of the pit of foolishness as it were. And it is not only for the sake of remaining wise and not becoming fools, but mainly due to the fact that to fall into the pit is to fall to our destruction, death, and maybe even into hell itself.

By associating with foolish people and allowing them to influence us draws us closer to that edge quicker and more subtly than we realise. We need to rather associate with wise people and with God's Word.

Are you associating with godly people? Are you spending time in the Word, searching out God's wisdom and allowing it to influence your life? If not, now is the time to put aside your foolish friends and foolish counsel and to seek out godly people in your life. Whether they be wise family members, business associates, or elders and pastors in your local church, seek them out and spend as much time with them as you can. And spend time in the Word by reading it daily, joining a Bible study, or going to a good Bible believing church.

Foolish people corrupt us, but godly people correct us.

Just a Thought!

© 2012

Just a Thought! - 9 July 2012

"Do not let your heart envy sinners, but live in the fear of the LORD always." (Proverbs 23:17).

 

The book of Proverbs is full of advice on the type of people we are to avoid associating or being friends with, and the possible consequences of such relationships. Though as Christians we must associate with non-believers in order to be a witness to them, we need to be cautious as to the depth of those relationships. Let us look a little more at the types of people we are to avoid.

 

6 Types of People to Avoid

Evil Doers (Proverbs 24:1-2) - No-one in their right mind would want to be close friends with a serial killer. To do so would not only look bad for one's reputation, but there are also serious consequences of such a relationship. It takes a very special kind of person with a unique gift, and the power of the Holy Spirit in their lives, to be able to minister to such a person. However, there are other evil doers that we constantly come into contact with that may seem somewhat innocent, but their given the right circumstances, their evil motives become apparent. In Proverbs we are warned to keep away from them and to fear God instead.

 

Gossips (Proverbs 20:19) - If you know of anyone who has the reputation of being a gossip, avoid them. Apart from the warning in Proverbs, another reason to avoid them is that it makes you a potential target of the gossip.

 

Angry People (Proverbs 22-24-25) - There are times in our lives when we become angry about a situation or event. This is normal and on occasion justified (e.g. Jesus clearing the temple in John 2). They difference here though is that there are people who seem to make a career out of anger and often sin in their anger, something we are warned about in Ephesians 4:26. Proverbs tells us to avoid them so as not to become like them.

 

Gluttons (Proverbs 23:20-21) - This may not seem like a big deal, but the Bible puts gluttons into the same category as drunkards. They are people that are not truly in control of their eating habits, but rather are giving in to the desires of the flesh, and if they fail in that area, what other area can they potentially fail in. The end result for them is ruin, shame and rags.

 

Thieves (Proverbs 29:24) - This may seem like an obvious one, but it is also a subtle one. In the business world for example we could easily aspire to be like a senior person in the company who is rather successful due to some shady dealings. At first we may not like what they do, but it is so easy to let our standards slip and act the same. Proverbs 29 reminds us that to associate with such people is the same as being a thief ourselves.

 

Immoral People (Proverbs 6:24-29) - We are also to avoid those who live immoral, promiscuous lives. This is a lifestyle that is so prevalent today. Proverbs clearly warns us to avoid such people as it is a lifestyle that is so easy to be enticed into.

 

Avoid Such People

Who are your friends? Which one of them is the biggest influence in your life? Do any of the fit into one of the six categories above? Are they the kind of people that you would like to become? More importantly, are they the type of people that God would want you to become?

The warnings of Proverbs may seem like generalisations, but they are there for a reason. God loves us and wants us to be people fit for His Kingdom. If our relationship with these kinds of people did not have influence over our lives in one way or another, God would not have included these warnings in the Bible in the first place.

 

Trust God's judgement and heed His advice, even if it goes against your feelings. Avoid these people wherever possible. If you cannot avoid them for whatever reason (e.g. a work colleague or family member) then ask God to give you the strength to resist the subtle influence these people may have over you.

   

Just a Thought!
© 2012

Just a Thought! - 2 July 2012

"The prudent sees the evil and hides himself, but the naive go on, and are punished for it. ... Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse; he who guards himself will be far from them" (Proverbs 22:3 & 5).

When on the road and you see a sign that says, as is typical in South Africa, "Danger, Potholes Ahead," do you ignore the warning and pick up speed and plough straight ahead as though the sign does not apply to you? No, only a fool would do that. Generally you would slow down, or at the very least, remain alert in order to avoid any potholes that could cause damage to your vehicle.

 

Yet with life, how often do we go about ignoring the warning signs of the impending dangers of sin? We treat them as though they do not apply to us, as though as believers we have some kind of immunity to them. Today's verses, and indeed many others in the Bible, are a stern warning to be aware of the sin that so easily entangles.

 

What Does Evil Look Like?

People are tempted by evil in many different forms, and it is not always something blatant. For example, living a healthy life is good and commendable, however, if you become so obsessed with it that it takes first place in your life to the extent that your relationship with God and others takes a back seat, then you are slipping into the area of idolatry. Taking care of one's health is not sinful, but the extent of the desire could be.

 

For other areas of life certain temptations are so obvious and are easy to recognise. The temptation to flirt with an attractive woman at work is an obvious warning sign that there is danger ahead that not only leads to unfaithfulness to your wife, but has eternal implications as well (refer to the seventh commandment).

 

Other warning signs of danger ahead could be watching too much TV, or watching the wrong things on TV, associating with the wrong people on a too casual basis where their behaviour is starting to affect yours, not praying or reading the Bible as often as you should, neglecting to go to church on a regular basis, lying to cover up a bad attitude or behaviour. All of these, and thousands like them, serve as warnings on our journey of life.

 

Avoiding Life's Potholes

Any normal human being enjoys things that give pleasure. Whether it be food, entertainment, or socialising, everyone of us has those things that give us some form of pleasure and excitement in life. Many of the things we enjoy may not be sinful, but there are those things that are. It is our responsibility to make sure that we do not miss the warning signs. We need to be discerning and not open-minded to the pleasures of the sinful nature. We need to heed the warning sings, and as our proverbs above tell us, to hide and guard ourselves from them.

  A wise person will not go through life at high speed ignoring the warning signs, that is the way of the naive and they will suffer for it. But the wise person will slow down, and carefully analyse the path ahead to make sure that they do not fall into the potholes.

 

But this warning actually applies to all areas of life, even the things that are not sinful in and of themselves. We need to constantly evaluate the things that we do and make sure that we are not enjoying the good things in excess, and that our desire for the good things is not turning them into compulsions. As I mentioned earlier, to desire something more than God is stepping into the area of idolatry, which is breaking the second commandment.

 

Therefore, ask yourself today, are you enjoying the things in life that are not allowed in the Bible? Are you enjoying the good things in life at the expense of your relationship with God and others? Are your desires for other things overtaking your desire for God? If you answered "yes" to any of these questions then the warning sign is right in front of you today. It is up to you to choose to obey it or not. If you answered "no", then do not fall into the trap of pride, but continue to heed the warning signs. They are there for your protection.

   

Just a Thought!
© 2012