Proverbs 18
1 An unfriendly man pursues selfish ends; he defies all sound judgment.
2 A fool finds no pleasure in understanding but delights in airing his own opinions.
3 When wickedness comes, so does contempt, and with shame comes disgrace.
4 The words of a man's mouth are deep waters, but the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.
5 It is not good to be partial to the wicked or to deprive the innocent of justice.
6 A fool's lips bring him strife, and his mouth invites a beating.
7 A fool's mouth is his undoing, and his lips are a snare to his soul.
8 The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to a man's inmost parts.
9 One who is slack in his work is brother to one who destroys.
10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.
11 The wealth of the rich is their fortified city; they imagine it an unscalable wall.
12 Before his downfall a man's heart is proud, but humility comes before honor.
13 He who answers before listening— that is his folly and his shame.
14 A man's spirit sustains him in sickness, but a crushed spirit who can bear?
15 The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge; the ears of the wise seek it out.
16 A gift opens the way for the giver and ushers him into the presence of the great.
17 The first to present his case seems right, till another comes forward and questions him.
18 Casting the lot settles disputes and keeps strong opponents apart.
19 An offended brother is more unyielding than a fortified city, and disputes are like the barred gates of a citadel.
20 From the fruit of his mouth a man's stomach is filled; with the harvest from his lips he is satisfied.
21 The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
22 He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the LORD.
23 A poor man pleads for mercy, but a rich man answers harshly.
24 A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Friday, December 18, 2009
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This proverb uses many examples to remind us what is summarized in Verse 21: "The tongue has the power of life and death..."
ReplyDeleteWe are warned that our mouths can be our undoing, can bring us strife, and can even bring us beatings.
In business, we must communicate constantly: with clients, with employees, with suppliers, with partners, and so forth. What we say is of vital importance. We need to heed the advice of this proverb and speak life to all we encounter.
There are so many opportunities to give into temptation and lie or embellish the truth. Often we hear: "just tell him I'm in a meeting" or "our product has been proven to be the best" or "our competitor has inferior service."
However, in this chapter of Proverbs, God is telling us that such talk is foolish and a snare to our souls---a trap set for us by the enemy.
But, there is also hope. Our lips can bring us satisfaction and life. If we speak the truth, plain and simple, then we'll be on God's path. I encourage us all to think carefully about our speech, especially our sales scripts and our communications with clients. If we are representing products and services of high quality and integrity, then there should be no reason to embellish.
Verse 10 says: "The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe."
ReplyDeleteWhen left to my own devices, I am a black-hearted sinner and a total failure in all areas of my life. All areas. Every single one.
However, when I flee to my Lord Jesus, who took pity and had mercy on me, and paid for my salvation with His blood, then I am safe.
When I abide in Him and the Holy Spirit picks me up and uses me as a tool to further God's Will---then, and only then, can I claim success. Not for myself (for what can I do on my own?)...but for Him.