What is in Your Heart Comes Out in Your Talk
May 12, 2021
Commentary
The glamour of the world often arouses envy in the minds of young and old alike. A Christian should not want what the world has to offer or even want to be with worldly people (v. 1). The best thing the world has to offer is only temporary no matter how attractive it may seem. If we hang around sinners, we will find that they do things that are evil. What is in their hearts comes out in their talk (v. 2).
Storing the mind and heart with wisdom, knowledge and understanding is like building a mansion on a solid foundation and beautifying and enriching it with costly furnishings (vv. 3-5). This can never be done by watching all the things that T.V. has to offer today. How tragic it is when parents just turn it on and let it go as a babysitter for their children. Also, the man who listens carefully to wise counselors will increase in strength (v. 6).
A wise person is not rash, and he avails himself to the counsel and experience of others. He is not an egoist and is willing to listen to what those who are godly have to say (v. 7). A person who continually thinks up evil schemes becomes known as a schemer (vv. 8-9). Such scheming is foolish because it is sinful and leads to mockery, which people detest. Solomon reminds his readers that the time of crisis is where the character of man is tested (v. 10). Giving in to the pressure of trouble shows that a person’s strength is limited.
Application
What do I do when a crisis comes? Do I fall apart, or do I claim Romans 8:28 where it says, “All things work together for good to them who are called according to His purpose"?
Proverbs 24:1– 10 (NET)
1 Do not envy evil people, do not desire to be with them;
2 for their hearts contemplate violence, and their lips speak harm.
3 By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established;
4 by knowledge its rooms are filled with all kinds of precious and pleasing treasures.
5 A wise warrior is strong, and a man of knowledge makes his strength stronger;
6 for with guidance you wage your war, and with numerous advisers there is victory.
7 Wisdom is unattainable for a fool; in court he does not open his mouth.
8 The one who plans to do evil will be called a scheming person.
9 A foolish scheme is sin, and the scorner is an abomination to people.
10 You have slacked off in the day of trouble — your strength is small!
Illustration: FB Myer How to Have Overflow Blessing
When F. B. Meyer was pastoring Christ Church in London, Charles Spurgeon was preaching at Metropolitan Tabernacle, and G. Campbell Morgan was at Westminster Chapel. Meyer said, “I find in my own ministry that supposing I pray for my own little flock, ‘God bless me, God fill my pews, God send me a revival,” I miss the blessing; but as I pray for my big brother, Mr. Spurgeon, on the right-hand side of my church, ‘God bless him’; or my other big brother, Campbell Morgan, on the other side of my church, ‘God bless him’; I am sure to get a blessing without praying for it, for the overflow of their cups fills my little bucket. (The Wycliffe Handbook of Preaching & Preachers, W. Wiersbe, p. 193).