Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Proverbs 29:6-10
Prov 29:6-10
6 An evil man is ensnared in his transgression, but a righteous man sings and rejoices. 7 A righteous man knows the rights of the poor; a wicked man does not understand such knowledge. 8 Scoffers set a city aflame, but the wise turn away wrath. 9 If a wise man has an argument with a fool, the fool only rages and laughs, and there is no quiet. 10 Bloodthirsty men hate one who is blameless and seek the life of the upright.
James 3:5-6
So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell.
When I was a young man, someone told me that it is better to keep your mouth shut and have others think that you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt. I have never forgotten this but sadly I have not always abided by it. It is too easy to speak when we should listen. Someone else told me that we never learn anything by speaking but we learn a lot by listening. This is so true!
It is never wise to argue with a fool but who is truly the fool. It is one who does not regard God as God. It is one who will not listen to wise advice. The fool is one who has no respect for what is right. It is one who finds joy in strife and who seems to thrive on arguing. Paul says this latter person is perverted and should be marked as a troublemaker and then be avoided. God wants us to live in peace.
Social media seems to be filled with fools who delight to say things that stir up trouble and gender strife. This is not to say that we should not explore ideas or look at things from a different perspective, but we must not create problems. We do need to think carefully before we post comments. Read it and then re-read it to see if it will do any good or just stir up trouble. If the tone of what we say is hateful, delete it. The wise man says that withholding words causes an argument to cease, just like withholding wood from a fire. “Be quick to listen, be slow to speak, and be slow getting angry because anger does not lead to righteousness.”
My God, my heavenly Father, who gave me life and breath, endow me with your wisdom so that I know when to just listen and when to speak. When I do speak, give me the wisdom to know what to say that will encourage and build up those who hear and not cause trouble or strife. With this wisdom, give me courage to say what needs to be said but to know how to say it with love and in kindness. I thank you for the opportunity of being your child and to be able to talk to you about what is on my heart. I pray in the name of Jesus my Lord.
Robert
