Tag Archives: Proverbs 10

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Running Your Mouth

Read: Proverbs 10

“When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise.” (Proverbs 10:19)

Edward H. Richards penned a profound little poem, and we would do well to embrace the simple truth it conveys more often than in reality we do:

The wise old owl lived in an oak;
The more he saw the less he spoke;
The less he spoke the more he heard:
Why can’t we all be like that bird?

Yeah, why can’t we be like that bird?  Why is it that we, the human species, seem to excel at running our mouths?  It’s a curious thing that our Creator gave us two ears and only one mouth, yet we seem to speak twice as much as we listen.  Truly, we would be much better off if we learned to be like that old bird!

I know I would.  I make my living by speaking, but I’ve found that the more I listen and the less I speak, the more effective I am.  When I run into difficulties in life, what I’ve found is that it’s not what I haven’t said that’s gotten me into trouble, it’s what I’ve said.  Why can’t I be like that bird?

There’s an African proverb that says, “Much silence makes a powerful noise.”  That’s really true, isn’t it!  So here’s an idea: Why don’t you and I go on a word fast.  I’m not talking, no pun intended, about going stark raving silent.  I’m just suggesting less words and more listening—to others, to your own heart, and especially to God.

Alice Gray tells a great story about a Native American who was walking in New York City with a friend. Suddenly he said, “I hear a cricket.”  His friend just kind of looked at him and said, “You’re crazy.”

“No, I’m sure I hear a cricket,” the Native American said. The friend replied, “Man, it’s noon… people everywhere, cars honking, taxis squealing, there’s no way you can hear a cricket in all this noise!”

The guy leaned toward the sound and said, “But I do.”  So he walked to the corner across the street, and looked.  Finally he found a shrub in a cement planter.  He dug into the planter and found the cricket. His friend was astounded, so the Native American said, “My ears are no different from yours. It just depends on what you are listening to.  I’ll show you.” So he reached into his pocket and pulled out a handful of change—a few quarters and dimes—and he dropped the coins on the concrete.  As every head within a block turned, he said, “You see what I mean?  It all depends on what your focus is.” 

Quiet down!  Zip it!  Put your tongue in neutral and quit running your mouth for a spell—and watch what happens. Learn to make that your practice and you’ll be at home among the wise!

“Many attempts to communicate are nullified by saying too much.” ~Robert Greenleaf

Winning At Life:

Today, intentionally listen twice as much as you speak, and see what happens—both in you, as well as the people you are around.  Just try it!  All of you may like it!

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Truly Blessed

Read: Proverbs 10:22

The blessing of the Lord makes one rich, and He adds no sorrow with it. (NKJV)

We really ought to spend some time redefining success and reevaluating the heavy price that we always pay to achieve the world’s version of it.  The ladder to success, achievement and prosperity is littered with the empty lives of those who fiercely climbed to the top only to find stress, dissatisfaction and loneliness when they get there.

I think it would be a very healthy thing for you and I to stop for a moment and ask, “why do I need any more than what I already have?  If I didn’t get another raise, promotion, recognition or material thing from this point on, could I be happy?”

According to this proverb, it is what the Lord blesses me with that makes for a rich, full and rewarding life.  It is with what I have at this very moment that I am called to be grateful and content.  It is my duty to look at my circumstances and, while giving all an out effort to maximize what God has given, find and celebrate the immeasurable and priceless qualities of a divinely ordered life.

You see, we already have everything we need for joy, peace and contentment—if we choose to see it!  For instance, Proverbs 17:1 says, “Better a dry crust with peace and quiet than a house full of feasting with strife.” That reminds me of the parable about a man who lived with his wife, two small children, and elderly parents in a tiny hut.  He tried to be patient and gracious, but the noise and crowded conditions wore him down.

In desperation, he consulted the village wise man, who asked, “Do you have a rooster?” The man replied. “Yes,” The wise man said, “Keep the rooster in the hut with your family, and come see me again next week.” The next week the man returned and told the wise elder that the living conditions were worse than ever.  The rooster was crowing and making a mess of the hut. “Do you have a cow?” asked the wise man.  The man nodded fearfully. “Take your cow into the hut as well, and come see me in a week.” Over the next several weeks, the man, on the advice of the village elder, made room for a goat, two dogs, and his brother’s children.

Finally, he could take it no more, and in a fit of anger, he kicked out all the animals and guests, leaving only his wife, children, and his parents.  The home became suddenly spacious and quiet, and everyone lived happily ever after.

Joy, peace and contentment are already there—it’s just a matter of perspective.  You and I already have a rich and rewarding life—God has made sure of that. We just have to open our eyes.  Notice a few other perspective-generating verses:

“Better a little with righteousness than much gain with injustice.” (Proverbs 16:8)

“Better a meal of vegetables where there is love than a fattened calf with hatred.” (Proverbs 15:17)

“It is better to have little with fear of the Lord than to have great treasure with turmoil.” (Proverbs 15:16)

Contentment begins with understanding and appreciating how much you already have.  If you have peace and tranquility in your home…if you are living a righteous life…if you have those who love you…even if you don’t have much else, the writer rhetorically asks, “what more do you need?”

And the answer is: Nothing, really—I only need what God wants to add to an already blessed life.

Christian contentment is that sweet, inward, quiet, gracious frame
of spirit, which freely submits to and delights in God’s wise
and fatherly disposal in every condition.
~Jeremiah Burroughs

Your Assignment, Should You Choose To Accept It:

Take a couple of minutes to offer gratitude to God for what you have.  Be specific—and don’t ask for a single thing.  You can do that another time.  Right now, be thankful—it is one of the highest acts of worship

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Zip It!

The wise old owl lived in an oak;
The more he saw the less he spoke;
The less he spoke the more he heard:
Why can’t we all be like that bird?
~Edward H. Richards

Yeah, why can’t we be like that bird?  Why is it that we, the human species, seem to excel at running our mouths?  It’s a curious thing that our Creator gave us two ears and only one mouth, yet we seem to speak twice as much as we listen.  Truly, we would be much better off if we learned to be like that old bird!

I know I would.  I make my living by speaking, but I’ve found that the more I listen and the less I speak, the more effective I am.  And when I run into difficulties in life, what I’ve found is that it’s not what I haven’t said that’s gotten me into trouble, it’s what I’ve said.  Why can’t I be like that bird?

Read: Proverbs 10:19

When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise.

There’s an African proverb that says, “Much silence makes a powerful noise.” That’s really true, isn’t it?  So here’s an idea: Why don’t you and I go on a word fast.  I’m not talking, no pun intended, about going stark raving silent.  I’m just suggesting less words and more listening—to others, to your own heart, and especially to God.

Alice Gray tells a great story about a Native American who was walking in New York City with a friend. Suddenly he said, “I hear a cricket.”  His friend just kind of looked at him and said, “You’re crazy.”

“No, I’m sure I hear a cricket,” the Native American said. The friend replied, “Man, it’s noon… people everywhere, cars honking, taxis squealing…There’s no way you can hear a cricket in all this noise!”

The guy leaned toward the sound and said, “But I do.”  So he walked to the corner across the street, and looked.  Finally he found a shrub in a cement planter.  He dug into the planter and found the cricket. His friend was astounded, so this guy said, “My ears are no different from yours. It just depends on what you are listening to.  I’ll show you.”

So he reached into his pocket and pulled out a handful of change—a few quarters and dimes.  And he dropped the change on the concrete.  Every head within a block turned.  And he said, “You see what I mean?  It all depends on what you’re focused on.”

Quiet down!  Zip it!  Zip it good—and watch what happens. Learn to make that your practice and you’ll be at home among the wise!

“Many attempts to communicate are nullified by saying too much.”
~Robert Greenleaf

Your assignment, should you choose to accept it:

Today, intentionally listen twice as much as you speak, and see what happens—both in you, as well as the people you are around.  Just try it!  All of you may like it!

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Nothing To Hide, Nothing To Fear

Read: Proverbs 10:9
(The Message)

Honesty lives confident and carefree, but Shifty is sure to be exposed.

Like my mom, your mom probably reminded you from time to time that “honesty is the best policy.” That value was drilled into in us from the very beginning in our homes. And over the years, whether we were living it out or suffering the consequences of violating it, we found that practicing honesty always resulted in what was best for us.  Honesty wasn’t always the easy road to travel; in fact, sometimes being honest had some unpleasant short-term consequences.  But in the end, telling the truth always proved to be right.

The Watchman Examiner once reported that when Senator Henry Clay was about to introduce a potentially unpopular bill back in the 1800’s, a friend said, “If you do, Clay, it will kill your chance for the presidency.” Clay asked, “but is the measure right?” And on being assured it was right, Clay said,  “I would rather be right than be president.” It’s the kind of character we all admire and long for in our leaders.

Proverbs calls that being a person of integrity.  Integrity is a word that is talked about a great deal in our society, but just what is it?  The dictionary defines it as fidelity to moral principles; honesty; soundness; completeness. A great working definition of integrity is who you are when no one is looking. The British poet Macaulay noted, “The measure of a man’s real character is what he would do, if he knew he would never be found out.”

The word integrity comes from the word integer, which refers to a whole number.  It is being a whole person.  It means there is a congruence between what you say you believe and how you actually live.  It is the marriage of what you say and what you do.

Proverbs 10:9 says that living as a person of integrity carries with it the priceless benefit of security:  “The man of integrity walks securely, but he who takes crooked paths will be found out.” Or, as the Message says, “Honesty lives confident and carefree.” When you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear.

Integrity…honesty…wholeness!  What a tremendous way to live.  The person who values and practices integrity will live with confidence, no matter what!  They can expect to live under the blessing and favor of God. They will be unburdened from the pending doom of discovery.   And at the end of their days, they will be able to look back with satisfaction on a life of no regrets.

Integrity!  It’s not always the easy way. It’s not always the way that will bring popularity and promotion.  But in the end, it is the only life that can stand before the All-knowing Judge.

“No man can climb out beyond the limitations of his own character.”
~John Morely

Your Assignment, Should You Choose To Accept It:

Come on, now, be honest!  Is there anything you would change about you—attitudes, thoughts, actions—if it was exposed to the light of public view?   Why not go ahead and tackle those things before they’re exposed on the Day of Accounting!