Proverbs 26:17-28 — Careless Speakers :(

READ THIS: Proverbs 26:17-28

17 Like one who grabs a stray dog by the ears is someone who rushes into a quarrel not their own. 18 Like a maniac shooting flaming arrows of death 19 is one who deceives their neighbor and says, “I was only joking!” 20 Without wood a fire goes out; without a gossip a quarrel dies down. 21 As charcoal to embers and as wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife. 22 The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to the inmost parts. 23 Like a coating of silver dross on earthenware are fervent lips with an evil heart. 24 Enemies disguise themselves with their lips, but in their hearts they harbor deceit. 25 Though their speech is charming, do not believe them, for seven abominations fill their hearts. 26 Their malice may be concealed by deception, but their wickedness will be exposed in the assembly. 27 Whoever digs a pit will fall into it; if someone rolls a stone, it will roll back on them. 28 A lying tongue hates those it hurts, and a flattering mouth works ruin.

WHAT’S THIS MEAN, ANYWAY?

In this passage, we learn about careless speakers. Someone who is not careful with his words doesn't understand a situation before he speaks into it (v17), is willing to hurt someone for a joke (v18-19), creates more conflict (v20-21), has deep and lasting effects (22), pretends to have something valuable and true to say (v23-25), and lies/flatters people even though that only benefits him (v28). 

The observant Deeply Rooted Reader will notice that verses 26-27 are oddly missing from the explanation. (Well done to the Observant Ones.)(One "yikes" awarded to the Unobservant Ones). Those verses, instead of describing a careless speaker's actions and morals, actually describe what will happen to a careless speaker. A careless speaker will be found out. Someone who continually speaks without thinking ends up digging himself into a pit, and all it takes is someone to notice it, and, bam, the careless speaker is trapped. 

So, the question is, is it really worth being a careless speaker? Do we want to be the type of person described in these proverbs, and will it be worth it when we get caught in our own careless words?

THINK ABOUT IT:

1.  Do you identify with the careless speaker? In what ways?

2. Why have you been careless with your words in the past?

TRY THIS:
 
Think about a time when someone else's careless words hurt you. What are intentional words that you could say to someone else that would have the opposite effect in his/her life? The challenge today is to go say those  intentional words!!!

Comments

  1. AnonymousOctober 8, 2023 at 12:28 AM

    “I was only joking” is usually said after a hurtful word is spoken—not a good practice to get into! Rather encourage one another as Jesus encourages His disciples out of love for them.

    ReplyDelete

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