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I have a custom that I engage many days; I read a chapter in the book of Proverbs that corresponds to the day of the month. For instance, today reading is Proverbs 18. That chapter has no less than 10 verses that caution us about the use of words. Below are just a few with my emphasis added.

The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters; the wellspring of wisdom of wisdom is a flowing brook. – vs. 4

In other words, whatever is deep down in our heart usually springs up through our mouths. Let’s hope it springs up words of wisdom into a flowing brook.


A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul. – vs. 7

How many people have been brought down more by what they said than what they did? How many of us have experienced the problems our mouths can produce?

He who answers a matter before he hears it, it is folly and shame to him. – vs. 13

God gave us TWO ears and ONE mouth. Could it be He expects is to listen twice as much as we speak?

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit. – vs. 21

Sweet fruit or sour, we all wind up eating our words.

 

However, one that struck me most this morning was verse 2:

A fool has no delight in understanding, but in expressing his own heart. 

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you were so intent on saying what you wanted to say that you weren’t listening to what others were saying? For those of you who have never done that (or who are two prideful to admit it), take it from one with experience . . . it can lead to some embarrassing situations. In his book Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, Steven Covey sets out this principle in Habit #5 – Seek First to Understand, Then to be Understood.

Our words are powerful . . . oh, that God would help us learn to use our powers for good and not for evil.

Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt . . . Colossians 4:6a

 

God, help us with our words. Help us to say the right things, the right way, and at the right time. And while you are helping us, Lord, help us to know when not to say anything.

Are Your Issues with the Fruits or the Roots?

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I have often had people say to me,  “Preacher you need to preach a sermon on ___________ .” Most of the time people fill in that blank with something they think others are doing wrong, or something right that others aren’t doing and need to get busy doing.

Two kinds of issues are at play in every person’s life – fruit issues and root issues.  Fruit issues are the visible evidences of root issues. Most of the time, people suggest preachers preach about fruit issues. Sure, I could preach about tithing, alcohol, church attendance and involvement, etc.; but the best that kind of preaching accomplishes is temporary, guilt-induced behavior modification.  As soon as the next temptation comes, the guilt subsides and the fruit issues re-emerge.

If we properly address the root issues, however, then we will see different and more permanently positive fruit.  We don’t have tithing, attendance, involvement, alcohol, or other fruit problems.  We have LORDSHIP and OBEDIENCE root problems.  The key is to get right at the heart level and the behavior level will naturally improve. That was the whole point of Jesus’ comment in the Sermon on the Mount, “…unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:20) Their piety was mere outward show, but Jesus calls us to a genuine heart.

I encourage you to ask God to work on you from the inside out.  Ask yourself why you exhibit some of the fruit issues in your life.  Ask God to set your heart right and watch the fruit issues take care of themselves.  Watch how God, as you submit to His Word, brings about genuine and permanent change in your life.

Keep your heart with all vigilance,
for from it flow the springs of life. – Proverbs 4:23

 

What Does “Judge Not” Really Mean?

I believe that the single Bible verse most taken out of its context in Matthew 7:1:

Judge not that you be not judged.

Often a person will employ this verse to defend sinful behavior, but such is not the meaning at all.  The Bible actually encourages us to look at the behavior of others.

As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him – Titus 3:10

Thus you will recognize them by their fruits. Matthew 7:20 (Speaking of false prophets)

Remember your leaders who have spoken God’s word to you. As you carefully observe the outcome of their lives, imitate their faith. – Hebrews 13:7

If anyone sees his brother committing a sin that does not bring death, he should ask, and God will give life to him… 1 John 5:16a

We are not judging when we measure our life and the lives of others against the plain teaching of Scripture.  Judging occurs rather when we make value judgments and assume that we know the heart and motives behind the actions of others.  We are encouraged to observe the behavior of others but we must NEVER assume to know their heart.

In addition, this verse is part of a larger passage of Scripture (Matthew 7:1-5) that encourages us to examine our own hearts before judging the hearts of others.  We must not overlook the Biblical admonition to remove the foul motives of our own hearts.  When we do, we more accurately see the hearts of others.  In fact, when we remove our own foul motives (the beam) we recognize that the motives of others were nobler than we imagined (only a speck).

So the true applications of these verses would include

1. Don’t be so quit to assume to know the heart of others, and
2. Be careful to examine your own heart.

The Simplicity of God at Work in Us

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And I am sure of this, that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. – Philippians 1:6

One of the reasons followers of Jesus lose hope is that we forget that God is at work in and around us.  Specifically God is doing a GOOD work.  What happens to us may not seem good, feel good, or appear good, but because God IS good and because God IS sovereign, what is happening to us IS good.

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose. – Romans 8:28

Another reason we lose hope is that we fail to recognize WHERE God is at work.  He has begun a good work IN you, not to you, around you, for you, or about you… IN you.  God is much more interested in our holiness than our happiness, more interested in our character than our comfort.  God is in the process of conforming is to the image of Jesus.

For those whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, in order that He might be the firstborn among many brothers. – Romans 8:29

Since God is working IN us, what then becomes our role?

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. – John 15:4

Each day, spend time in God’s Word allowing Him to use that word to interpret our circumstances (not vice-versa) and to transform us into who He wants us to be.  

Yes.  It really is THAT SIMPLE.  Dig into God’s Word, observe our lives, learn how to apply God’s Word to the circumstances of our day, and over time God transforms us into the image of Christ. No shortcuts.  No gimmicks.  God’s Word applied to everyday life.  We do our part, God does His part.  We bear fruit and God receives glory.  I encourage you to start today.  Let the good work begin.

By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be My disciples. – John 15:8