Rhetorical Suicide

Proverbs 18:20-21 A man's belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled. Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

The Bible has much to say about our words, and I have long considered familiar with its teaching. But in today's reading I happened across Proverbs 18:20, which states, "A man's belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled." Specifically, this verse may be understood to teach that our words have a direct impact on whether or not we eat. As the man said, "T'was a revelation to me."

I have long appreciated the power of words. They are the revealers of the heart, and poorly chosen words are extremely destructive. But the Scriptures go even farther. Is it possible that our words are keeping us from experiencing success and fulfillment? Apparently so.

Think of the people you know who are struggling to find their way in life. Nothing seems to work for them. They fight and scrap to pay the bills, frequently relying on others for their very bread. Now consider their conversation. Are they talking themselves into a hole? Read their Facebook postings. Are they ungrateful, critical, judgmental, harsh?  If so, they are living illustrations of the truth of Proverbs 18:20.

And as if verse 20 were not enough, God chose to reinforce the thought in verse 21. "Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof." I always considered this verse to be talking about the effects of our words on others. Now I understand that is not the case, but it rather concerns the effects of our words on ourselves.

Choosing Our Words Carefully

Proverbs 17:27 " He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit."

The Bible has much to say to us about the power of and the misuses of the tongue. James 3 gives us a thorough understanding of just how difficult it is to control our words, and Jesus was very clear about the source of our words, and how ultimately they reveal us.

Given these things, it is not surprising to find that Solomon, exercising his God-given wisdom, also mentions the tongue on numerous occasions. We find one of those mentions here, in Proverbs 17:27. Digging through the two parts of the passage, we find that, typical of Hebrew poetry, they are really one thought expressed in two ways. First, "He that hath knowledge spareth his words". When studied out, we understand that the man who has knowledge is one who is aware of the time and circumstances, who has discernment concerning how words affect not only the hearers but others, and whose wisdom allows him to apply biblical principles to the situation. Given this "knowledge", he speaks little and carefully chooses his words. The second part, "a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit" reinforces the first part by telling us that such a man, one that is aware, discerning and wise, is also of an excellent spirit. His spirit is such that it remains calm under every circumstance. Such a man can be relied on for sound godly counsel, producing light and peace rather than upset and discord.

My mind makes an instant connection between this verse and Proverbs 22:3 and 27:12, "A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished." A prudent man, one with knowledge and understanding, will keep his spirit under control and choose his words carefully. In what situation will you find yourself today where the Lord wants you to be such a man?