Word Harvest: Proverbs 12:14-16

          The book of Proverbs has many treasures and this particular passage has meant more and more to me as time has passed, so I want to briefly share my thoughts on it today. Proverbs 12:14-16 has three separate pieces of advice, but I wish to put the last two pieces of advice under the umbrella of the first one to give you my perspective. Here is Proverbs 12:14-16:

14 From the fruit of his lips a man is filled with good things
    as surely as the work of his hands rewards him.
15 The way of a fool seems right to him,
    but a wise man listens to advice.
16 A fool shows his annoyance at once,
    but a prudent man overlooks an insult.

           The first verse tells us that what our future looks like will be shaped by the words that we use today. They chart our course for the future and affect how our relationships form over time. James 3:3-5 expresses similar thoughts:

3 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4 Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 5 Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark

         This verse tells us that large parts of our lives and whole relationships can be directed by the tongue. The Proverbs passage goes so far as to say that we can bet on the fruit of our words as much as we are guaranteed our wages from our jobs. Going on, verse 15 says that only foolish people believe that they are right in every situation, but that wise people are open to being wrong and corrected. The response that we give with our words to criticism shapes our character. If we use sarcasm and defensive comments to deflect constructive criticism, we start cycles of destructive behavior that leave us stunted in our growth. Not only so, but someone who willingly takes advice is more likely to receive the same kind of advice in the future, which adds to a cycle of growth as honest relationships begin to flourish.
         Also, in verse 16, we can see that the same tongue can shape how we relate to those people who annoy or insult us. We are supposed to respond to this kind of person in love, like in Romans 12:17-21:

 17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”[d] says the Lord. 20 On the contrary:
“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
    if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”[e]
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

        If we don't clamp down our tongues to keep us from lashing out, we will lose the opportunity to live out this passage before we even have the time to remember it. This is the same thought that is behind James 1:19-20:

19 My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.

        If we allow our tongue to attack people, we will lose our ability to reconcile our enemies to both God and ourselves. Righteous wrath was never meant to be loosed in an uncontrolled way. This is shown to be in the character of God in Nahum 1:2-3a:

 2 The Lord is a jealous and avenging God;
    the Lord takes vengeance and is filled with wrath.
The Lord takes vengeance on his foes
    and maintains his wrath against his enemies.
3 The Lord is slow to anger and great in power;
    the Lord will not leave the guilty unpunished. 

        This blog post is but a short summary of the good and evil that can come from the tongue, but I think it suffices in showing how careful we should be in using our tongue to build up relationships as well as God's kingdom. While there are different times for loving, gentle language or righteous anger, the one consistent theme is thoughtfulness and discernment. Reflect on which response would draw the other person closer to God. For this reason, I close with Proverbs 26: 4-5:

4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly,
    or you will be like him yourself.
5 Answer a fool according to his folly,
    or he will be wise in his own eyes