A Tale of Two Ladies--Conversations-- Proverbs 10-30

 

The book of Proverbs refers to the importance of conversations almost 150 times!!  Sometimes it's referred to as our lips, our tongue, and/or our speech.  Words Matter.  We use them every day.  When it comes to our conversations, we have two choices--fear of the LORD or fear of man.  Wisdom is the fear of the LORD, folly is the fear of man.  If we want to follow wisdom, we commit to living in God's World in God's Way.  If we choose to follow folly, we will do what is right in our own eyes.  

 Wisdom calls from four different locations-- In the street; in the markets; at the head of the noisy streets; and at the entrance of the city gates. (Proverbs 1:20-21) These are all areas of great influence, whether we think people are "listening" or not.  

James 3:1-12 compares Lady Wisdom and Lady Folly's influence over our speech. (They are not named here, but by now we most definitely recognize them.)  He  says we can start a fire straight from hell with our tongue, and think of the devastation fire brings to these public places.  We should not be speaking from both sides of our mouth; the world is listening.  James wonders if a one spring can bring fresh and salt water, or if a fig tree can produce olives, or a grapevine can produce figs, or if you can dip fresh water from a salt pond.  The answer is an obvious "no".  I should not be speaking from both sides of my mouth.  If it cannot happen in creation, it should not be happening in me. 

 

Jesus, the Wisdom and Power of God, says in Matthew 12:33-37, that out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks, and on the day of judgement people will give account for every careless word they speak.  Lying, flattery, slander, gossip--none of these forms find their origin with God.  Wisdom--Jesus--is teaching us to speak wisely in a dark world.  

We are not going to reference each of the 150 verses, but I picked a few of my favorites.  

Proverbs 12:6 --"The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood, but the mouth of the upright delivers them." --We lie in wait for an opportunity to "prove someone wrong", regardless of the trail of hurt we may leave behind.  (social media makes this sooo easy 😓)

Proverbs 15:28--"The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things." --Righteous ones think before they speak; wicked ones projectile vomit evil.  

Proverbs 18:6, 7--"A fool's lips walk into a fight, and his mouth invites a beating.  A fool's mouth is his ruin, and his lips are a snare to his soul."--Speaking under the influence of Lady Folly leads to nothing right.  

Proverbs 16:24--"Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body."--Speaking under the influence of Lady Wisdom leads to nothing wrong.  

Proverbs 13:3--"Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin."  Here are our two paths--Lady Wisdom's leads to life; Lady Folly's leads to ruin.  

"Speak as if love for God is greater than love of man."  Elizabeth Woodson