WHEN TO KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT

My mom shared a great picture on Facebook this morning:

WHEN TO KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT

DON’T OPEN YOUR MOUTH:

 

• In the heat of anger. Proverbs 14:17
• When you don’t have all the facts Proverbs 18:13
• When you haven’t verified the story. Deuteronomy 17:6
• If your words will offend a weaker brother. 1 Corinthians 8:11
• If your words will be a poor reflection of the Lord or your friends and family. Peter 2:21-23
• When you are tempted to joke about sin. Proverbs 14:9
• When you would be ashamed of your words later. Proverbs 8:8
• When you’re tempted to make light of holy things. Ecclesiastes 5:2
• If your words would convey a wrong impression. Proverbs 17:27
• If the issue is none of your business. Proverbs 14:10
• When you are tempted to tell an outright lie. Proverbs 4:24
• If your words will damage someone’s reputation. Proverbs 16:27
• If your words will destroy a friendship. Proverbs 25:28
• When you are feeling critical. James 3:9
• If you can’t speak without yelling. Proverbs 25:28
• When it is time to listen. Proverbs 13:1
• If you may have to eat your words later. Proverbs 18:21
• If you have already said it more than one time (then it becomes nagging) Proverbs 19:13
• When you are tempted to flatter a wicked person. Proverbs 24:24
• When you are suppose to be working instead. Proverbs 14:23

Proverbs 21:23 “Whosoever keepeth his mouth and his tongue, keepeth his soul from trouble.”

 

Chasing? or Following? Blind and meaningless, or Seeing with purpose?

​So I decided to compare wisdom with foolishness and madness (for who can do this better than I, the king? ). I thought, “Wisdom is better than foolishness, just as light is better than darkness. For the wise can see where they are going, but fools walk in the dark.” Yet I saw that the wise and the foolish share the same fate. Both will die. So I said to myself, “Since I will end up the same as the fool, what’s the value of all my wisdom? This is all so meaningless!” For the wise and the foolish both die. The wise will not be remembered any longer than the fool. In the days to come, both will be forgotten. So I came to hate life because everything done here under the sun is so troubling. Everything is meaningless—like chasing the wind. – Ecclesiastes 2:12‭-‬17 NLT

As the critic examines this life from a purely humanistic point of reference,  can’t we are how hopeless a life without meaning past ourselves proves to be? If there is nothing more than self,  if I have made myself more important than all, if I have set myself upon the throne of my own life, where will my vanity end but in my own death? And what will even my own death accomplish? 
Yes, there is more to this life,  this c wield, this existence than what can be seen, touch, tasted, measured and contemplated. There are thoughts and concepts and forces at work that are beyond the neat little box I would like to fit everything into. 
I look upon the undeniable hand of Good in all this and I am humbled and see myself foolish in whatever wisdom I think that I have gathered into my shopping cart to buy with my time and effort when He offers it freely to those who will listen and receive, to those who have ears to hear. Tune your ears to His guidance, to His leading, to the touch of His Good News as He reveals Himself to you, friend. For in Him and in Him alone will you find Truth,  will you find the way,  and will you live the life set before you. 

This is godly wisdom. Follow Christ who is trustworthy, instead of chasing the wind which is meaningless. 

Studying “for Living”  instead of “for Knowing”

​And I set my mind to seek and explore by [man’s] wisdom all [human activity] that has been done under heaven. It is a miserable business and a burdensome task which God has given the sons of men with which to be busy and distressed. – ECCLESIASTES 1:13 AMP

Practical science, math, physics, chemistry, biology, history, social studies, art – I could go on for hours just naming the various areas of study in which man, by man’s own wisdom,  examines the world and examines each other. One could dedicate their whole lives to study and education,  earning many titles and honors and placards – but what good is study if not applied? Does it do anything but inflate their own imaginations if this knowledge does not produce any benefit or result in their life or offer any useful product that aids his fellow man? 

If a man studies natural science and learns about all kinds of animals but when removed from his books and his many writings — still picks up the poisonous snake that bites him, and he dies from the bite — how miserable, burdensome, and useless was his task? 
If a man is a great mathematician, knowing how to solve complex equations, but when removed from his chalk and chalk board or from his pencil and pen he doesn’t understand the application of this knowledge to his finances and finds himself destitute and in great need — how miserable, burdensome, and useless was his task? 

But even moreso, if a man is a great theologian,  who studies and recites and preaches upon the wonders of God – but who never knows God, who never sees God alive in his every day, who never lives a life walking in spirit and not in flesh — how truly horrible an existence could this be? 

Or a pew warmer that never steps into the calling and purpose that God has for their lives — that never takes hold of the teaching that leads us to a personal, abiding,  active relationship with Almighty God through our faith and hope found in Jesus Christ — how burdensome and miserable to sit through repeated empty religious pomp and ceremony that they have not yet seen past?

Without vision, without purpose, without direction, the people perish – and they perish from a lack of wisdom and understanding. Understand your purpose today, Christian. His call is the same as it ever was. Believe and follow. Draw close to Him and He will draw close to you. Resist, evil,  see it flee,  and watch Him step in and overflow into every crevice of your life, even into every heart that you touch with your service and your sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ. 

Rest in Him, and you will, “Arise and Go!” not in burdensome work but in grateful response. If any of it looks to others like sacrifice and burden, tell them it just isn’t so, and show them how much of a joy it is to share in the ministry of Jesus Christ. 

No matter any apparent cost, the prize is greater, because everything here is dust – whether we have much or little, let us be sure that we don’t just study Christ, but that “He lives, He lives inside my heart!”

Two Ladies call out, “Come in with me”

​If you become wise, you will be the one to benefit. If you scorn wisdom, you will be the one to suffer. – Proverbs 9:12 NLT

Proverbs chapter 9 has us contrasting two, very different ladies. Both call out from the heights overlooking the city, and both urge the simple, “Come in with me.”
But one lady in verses 1-9 is Wisdom and the other in verses 13-18 is Folly. One leads to benefit, while the other one leads to suffering. And in the chasm of verses 10-12 between these two “ladies” are verses about correction, and how the presence (or lack) of fear of the LORD will influence a man’s reaction to correction. 

Take away fear of the LORD and a man will think himself wise even as He is a mocker dining with the dead. A mocker has no interest in learning more, because for him in his mind it is finished and there is nothing more left to be done in him at all – he is quite satisfied where he is and he has no need for correction, examination, or learning. He is a fool caught in a trap that he doesn’t even have eyes to see. 

A fool thinks himself wise, but this says the LORD God Almighty:

“So don’t bother correcting mockers; they will only hate you. But correct the wise, and they will love you. Instruct the wise, and they will be even wiser. Teach the righteous, and they will learn even more.” – Proverbs 9:8‭-‬9 NLT

Receive correction. Don’t just hear it, receive it. Learn. Or if you won’t, you will forget that both are crying out to the simple.

Easy to Love

I thought it would be easy to love God when I saw how wonderful He is, then He said, “love me by loving your neighbor”. 
I thought it would be comfortable to love God when I remembered my neighbor that is friendly and wealthy and doesn’t need much at all, then He said, “love me by loving those in need”. 
I thought it wouldn’t be that challenging to love God when I remembered my friendly neighbor that has so many kids that they barely get by, in fact,  I even thought that I was doing a pretty fair job by sharing and sacrificing without grumbling about it at all. But then He said,  love me by loving even your enemies. 
And I wondered to myself, does He really mean them? They hate me. They cause me trouble and grief. They steal from me. They lie about me. They are even mean to the ones that I love.  
That’s when He interrupted my train of thought and He asked, “Haven’t you hated and disobeyed my commands? Haven’t you stood in opposition to wisdom and truth? Haven’t you stolen from me the time and gifts and blessings you were entrusted with to steward wisely? Haven’t you lied about me? Aren’t you slow to share the same mercy towards others that I showed towards you on the cross?”
Yes, this is love, that He loved me first – and that by that love I am being taught to love.

What would be impossible for man alone is quite possible for God (for Christ who lives in me) to do even through me. Because it isn’t about loving others to prove that I love God. No, I love God, and He will prove to me that I do by His love poured out, showing me how to love even my enemies. 

I melt in your presence

I fail you daily. 

You are faithful and true. 

—–
I play the fool.

You are wise and correct me. 

—–
If they follow me they will stumble. 

If they follow you they will live.

 —–

Let me find my rest in the arms of your mercy. 

Let me die to self and you come live in me. 

Cover me with your annointing.

Do not let them see me, 

Do not let my enemies see that their worst accusations against me fall short of this mountain of sinfulness that you cast into the sea, that you will not count against me, 

for your names sake. 

—–
For you are holy. 

And I fall lowly. 

—–

But you lift me up, 

to places I dare not go on my own, 

But with you, I soar as on eagles wings,

With you, what was once crooked is now straight,

It is true that you are making all things new. 

Because you are reconciling all things to you. 

—–
Oh for that day, 

That perfect day, 

When I might lay it all at your feet, 

Not in part but in whole, 

And you might exchange my worthless ashes,

For an audience with the King of Kings, 

Where I might fall down as though dead, 

To feel your reassuring touch,

To look into your face, 

To see past fiery eyes 

and sword filled mouth

To know the breath of my love,

To celebrate the most high God,

Who has shone His glory, 

Even upon a mere man like me, 

To prove He is sufficient, 

To demonstrate He is powerful, 

And mighty to save those who love Him.

To save those who not only call upon His name with their lips, 

But who long to serve Him and walk in His will. 

—–
LORD,

only you can make straight

What you once made crooked. 

So I praise your holy name, 

I lay down my life, 

And I lift up my hands,

And I sing from the mountaintops, 

“Our God is an awesome God, worthy to be praised! He is merciful and mighty! 

None can stand in His presence under their own power, 

Yet we enter boldly into the throne room of grace, 

For our help does not come from man, 

Nor does it come from the world, 

Nor does it come from scholarly learning. 

No, our help comes from the LORD!
And who is mighty enough to oppose Him? 

All who oppose Him will be laid to shame! 

They will be laid low. 

Even as low as we have been laid in our finding our hope in Christ alone the cornerstone. 

—–
Fear the LORD our God,

For it is in this fear that your hope is found, that wisdom is laid hold to even mere men, even wretched sinners who realize their plight. 
Turn to Him,

Look upon Christ Jesus, 

Believe and be saved! 

Walk renewed, 

And do not turn back. 

Keep your eyes on the hope of glory, 

No matter how blinding the light, 

For it is here, 

As the rebellious child is chastened, 

As the dross is burned away, 

As the fiery trials prove productive, 

As the pressure reveals the gems that were once hidden deep below the surface, 

His children are born to new life, 

And His glory shines radiant, 

Like the many stars in the sky, 

Shining forth with the light of not their own source, 

But light from the source of life itself,

Imparted to them on His behalf, 

And for His glory forevermore.

He is Close

A few verses from Proverbs 8 stand out to me this morning. Looking at the chapter in whole — 

Verses 1-11 seem to cry out, reminding us to listen, reminding us that wisdom is not far away from us if we will listen. 

My words are plain to anyone with understanding, clear to those with knowledge. – Proverbs 8:9 NLT 

They remind us that God is not hidden from us, but He has revealed Himself to us. They remind us that His way is not hidden or secret, but is available to all who will listen. 

—–

Verses 12-16 tell us about wisdom being the source of discernment and justice.  

All who fear the Lord will hate evil. Therefore, I hate pride and arrogance, corruption and perverse speech. – Proverbs 8:13 NLT

They speak of Truth and reveal clearly that it comes from God, not from the works of men – that in fact, it is God that establishes even kingdoms and rulers. 

—–

Verses 17 – 21 are like a welcoming promise followed by a sweet embrace. 

I love all who love me. Those who search will surely find me. Those who love me inherit wealth. I will fill their treasuries. – Proverbs 8:17‭, ‬21 NLT

They point out that the treasures spoken of are more precious than the most valuable “things” in this world – they speak of a Kingdom that is greater than where the foolish and wicked dwell. They speak of a Kingdom that is not hidden from us,  but that many cannot see because they have no interest in it. 

—–

Verses 22 – 31 introduce us more personally and intimately to the master of the house who is inviting us in (the messenger, the guide who will be leading us along the way on this journey into wisdom). 

The Lord formed me from the beginning, before he created anything else. I was the architect at his side. I was his constant delight, rejoicing always in his presence. – Proverbs 8:22‭, ‬30 NLT

They speak to us of Wisdom, of God’s will and purpose and laws that govern things that are unseen and spiritual as well as those that are physical and seen.
—–

Verses 32 – 36 invite us to spend time together daily,  even to abide with and have fellowship with our newly found friend. 

For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the Lord . But those who miss me injure themselves. All who hate me love death. – Proverbs 8:35‭-‬36 NLT

They speak of people either finding favor in this friend that they have found, or that those who hate wisdom prove that they love death.  

—–

Isn’t this the truth of the Gospel? Jesus Christ is not hidden from the world. Is there any man foolish enough to deny the wisdom of His teaching or the blameless and selfless nature of His life’s example? Can’t we see that He is both discerning and just? Can’t we see that He welcomes all to enter into a new life of wisdom and turn away from a foolish life ruled by sin and worldliness that accounts for nothing and that leads to death? Can’t we see that it is a daily, close, personal relationship that overflows into every area of our life – not just an occasional, empty religious practice? 

He isn’t hidden from you — love the LORD, and hate evil. Live with Him, and He will live with you. May the LORD bless you and keep you. May He lead you upon the path, and all will see Him finish the work that He has begun in His people,  because as He declared on the cross,  “It is finished.” And the empty tomb and the filled vessels testify to His victory,  today and forevermore! Amen.