Tag Archives: speech

I don't want to be a snare to anyone's soul.
Reading:

Proverbs 22:21-29

Verse twenty-four warns against developing friendships with those who have anger issues boiling within (and from) them. Here’s the reason given for not making such friendships:

“Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul” (Proverbs 22:25).

Should people avoid friendship with me, lest they learn my ways?

Hmmm. I wonder what negative things I allow in my character. Bitterness? Suspiciousness? Anger? Self-pity? Moroseness? Defensiveness? Pride?

Yuck!

And I wonder what my character positives are.

Well, whatever the case, that verse has been a wake-up call to me this morning.

I want to be safe to be around!

I want to be safe to learn from!

When someone learns my ways, I don’t want it to be a snare to his soul.

[Answer the words of truth (Proverbs 22:21)]
from Proverbs 22:21

A little bit more from Proverbs 22: My Defender

Reading:
Proverbs 20:11-20

In the last few weeks, I suppose a lot of people have come to wish they had a stash of gold and jewels instead of the devalued or useless paper assets they hold.

Without question, gold and precious stones are of great value. Why, I don’t exactly understand. But that’s the way it is.

What about my lips?

Or to frame the question differently, what about my words?

And the thoughts and knowledge and attitudes behind those words?

“There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel” (15).

Sure, gold and rubies are precious jewels in their own right.

But lips of knowledge? Now there’s another category of precious jewel!

(By the way, my Spanish Bible uses “prudent lips” in place of the KJV’s “lips of knowledge.”)

[Every purpose is established by counsel (Proverbs 20:18)]
from Proverbs 20:18

A little bit more from Proverbs 20: So Ask for Them!