Proverbs 10 is a great resource for life. It is for the whole body. Our personal body and the body of Christ. It gives action and their consequences. If we are wise we will learn from it, heed it’s warnings, live by it’s advice and reap it’s rewards.

I almost went mad deciding how to approach it in ten minutes. Every verse deserves a book. So since I have trouble with running off at the mouth, being female for starters and wordsy to boot, I thought I’d capture the essence of the verses about the mouth and the lips because I need them.

Whenever I read Proverbs, I come up with so many questions. Hard questions that I need to ask myself and answer honestly if I am to grow in character and godliness. So I thought today I’d record the “lips” verses here and ask myself & you the hard questions!

v. 21 The lips of the righteous nourish many, but fools die for lack of sense

Are my words nourishing?

Do I speak with sense?

v.6 Blessings crown the head of the righteous but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked.

Do my words bless others?

Or do my words cut people down?

V.8 The wise in heart accepts commands but a chattering fool comes to ruin.

Is my heart accepting of God’s commands or am I just all talk?

v. 10 Whoever winks maliciously causes grief and a chattering fool comes to ruin.

Am I lying to myself and others and trying to talk my way around it?

v.11 The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.

Do my words bring life, life that flows and continues to flow into people’s lives when I am no longer speaking? Or do my words bring ongoing hurt and pain for others?

v. 12 Hatred stirs up conflict but love covers over all wrongs

What kind of heart do my words flow out of; hate or love? Can I tell from their effect?

v.13 Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning but a rod is for the back of one who has no sense

Am I wise before or after the fact? Am I avoiding dramas or constantly putting out fires?

v. 14. The wise store up knowledge but the mouth of the fool invites ruin

Is every word I say necessary? Should I be storing up more than I do? Are my words creating my own problems?

v. 17 Whoever heeds discipline shows the way to life, but whoever ignores correction leads others astray

Are my words leading others to life? or leading others astray?

v. 18 Whoever conceals hatred with lying lips and spreads slander is a fool

Do I lie? Do I conceal hatred? or do I spread slander? Again what kind of heart do my words flow from; love or hate?

v. 19 Sin is not ended by multiplying words, but the prudent hold their tongues

Should I be patient and cover over sin with my love, instead of saying everything I want to say to this person/about this sin?

v. 20 The tongue of the righteous is choice silver but the heart of the wicked is of little value

Are others going to treasure what I have to say? Am I sharing God’s words, His treasure? Or is it just waffle/filler?

v. 22 The blessing of the Lord brings wealth without painful toil for it

Am I toiling painfully for blessings that are not actually from the Lord, or am I abiding and receiving the blessing of His grace.

v. 31 From the mouth of the righteous comes the fruit of wisdom but a perverse tongue will be silenced

Is there going to be seed planted in others that came from the fruit from my mouth? Or will I be silenced? (will my fruit just rot?)

v.32 the lips of the righteous know what finds favour, but the mouth of the wicked only what is perverse.

Is what I am saying, going to find favour with the Lord?

God may the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in your sight.

Be encouraged today, be blessed as you ask yourself these “How am I going?” questions. Be reminded that Jesus is a God who lifts us up. If you are not going so well with your words, I pray that you will turn the eyes of your heart to Him, because I would guess that it is your heart that needs Him first.

I thank God that he is the King of love. Love that covers over all sin. I pray to the Holy Spirit that he will anoint your heart, and make it a fountain for your lips, and tongue, so that the words which flow easily out of you will be blessing and thanksgiving and rejoicing!

Lots of love,

L

© Lauren Macdonald. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission, from this blog’s author, is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Lauren Macdonald @ http://godhelpmei.com