In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is wise. The tongue of the righteous is choice silver; the heart of the wicked little worth. The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for lack of wisdom.   V: 19-21

WORDS……TONGUE………LIPS…….

Any idea what we need to look at today? I think I need it more than anyone. At this time in my life with a challenging situation I face, I need continuous reminders of what the living Word says. For some reason I find it very hard to stop talking…..God tells me there is sin in the multitude of (my) words. If I restrain my lips, saying only what I need to say; possibly even just one time, I’ll be wise. This is what I want to be but I’m afraid I remain foolish much of the time in this area.

When the tongue is unrestrained, what will come out certainly won’t be good. Isn’t that true? Can you recall a time you said something you shouldn’t have or wished you hadn’t? Often it comes after we really get going; at least it is that way for me. I think that unless we are very mindful of all our words, we’ll go off on a trail that we don’t belong on. My tongue and my words are to be Christ’s; not my own. I long for the day when I will have full victory in this area.

The next look is at the heart of the wicked; it is of little worth. That may not sound so bad until one realizes that these words are not just coming from a man, but from the Author Himself. BUT the heart of the righteous is of great worth because it is compared to choice silver. The heart is always the starting point for what makes its way up to our lips isn’t it. We may want to deny that, but we can’t. We may want to blame what comes out of our mouths on a ‘bad’ day or a difficult person. The truth remains however, as it always will, that no matter the day, person in our face, or circumstance; if our heart is right before God; submitted to Him in true humility,valuable words will flow from our mouth.

These words will even ‘feed’ many; not in food to be ingested but in meeting a different need. The tongue of the righteous represents the heart of our loving God, and that will surely fill the hungry soul. Fools will die for lack of wisdom.

For Today: Friends, this just hit me hard: could it be that it is my responsibility to be the wisdom that the foolish lack? How will they live though if in the multitude of my words sin is present? How will they move away from their foolishness and the path of destruction if they see in me the very thing that is so much a part of who they are?

If we don’t reflect Wisdom; if we don’t represent Wisdom, the world will not be drawn to Wisdom.

Oh LORD help each and every one of us, no matter where we may be in this area, to not dismiss the power of what flows out of our mouths. Our speech should be a mirror of the Beautiful Savior who has changed us, not a tool of the enemy.

Purify my heart LORD, that the watching world may see Jesus.

What has God revealed to you about yourself as you read these passages?