Shownotes
Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy
Welcome to Day 431 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.
This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom
A Tongue Can Bring Life or Death – Proverbs [18:13]-24
Thank you for joining us for our 5 days per week wisdom and legacy building podcast. This is Day 431 of our trek, and today is Wisdom Wednesday. Every Wednesday along life’s trails we dig for the nuggets of wisdom that are found within the book of Proverbs. Today we will explore the 2nd half of Chapter 18.
We are broadcasting from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. On Sunday after church, we headed back to Indian Trail and arrived by late evening. Our plans to watch the fireworks display at Marietta’s Sternwheel Festival were canceled due to a line of severe thunderstorms that went through Marietta that evening. Although they ended up having the fireworks after the storms, we decided that we did not want to deal with the crowds and wet grass. There will be other years to enjoy it in the future.
We are back in the thick of work with many projects and client work on our schedule for this week, but for now, it’s time to break camp and head out on our trail in search of those golden nuggets of wisdom that are found within the book of Proverbs. One nugget King Solomon continually emphasizes is how we speak. It is a continual theme on today’s trek also. How we speak to others is so important it can literally bring life or death as verse 21 starts out with is…
A Tongue Can Bring Life or Death
Let’s start our trek with verse 13.
13 Spouting off before listening to the facts
is both shameful and foolish.
We all fall into this trap, don’t we? In many conversations, we are so busy preparing our reply we are not really listening to what is being said. This type of communication is shameful and makes us a fool. A truly wise person will speak little and listen much to hear what is really being said. There is much to learn from a conversation of what is not being said by others, but we can only hear it if we keep our own mouth shut.
14 The human spirit can endure a sick body,
but who can bear a crushed spirit?
We can endure much physically and still survive, but once a person’s spirit is wounded or destroyed that person will be defeated. We need to be very careful not to abuse others physically, mentally, emotionally, or spiritually. Words can cut a deeper wound than physical abuse.
15 Intelligent people are always ready to learn.
Their ears are open for knowledge.
The key to becoming a truly intelligent person is to keep your mouth shut and ears open. I have yet to learn anything when I am speaking myself, other than to realize how foolish I sound at times. Let us make it a habit of listening and learning, then speak only when it is appropriate or to ask questions so we can learn more.
16 Giving a gift can open doors;
it gives access to important people!
Within today’s political environment, we see how this is so true. Gifts for political favors seem to be an epidemic. It probably has always been the case, as it is mentioned a few times within the book of Proverbs. This does not always have to be a bad situation, but let me ask this question, “How willing are you to give gifts to others with no expectation of anything in return?” That is the truest form of love and compassion.
17 The first to speak in court sounds right—
until the cross-examination begins.
We see this situation so often in court but also in regular dialog with others. When someone presents their case or argument, they may sound very convincing at least until the opposing counsel has the opportunity to present their case. It would serve us all well to remember that there are two sides to every story or conflict, and it would be best if we listen to all the information before making a decision.
18 Flipping a coin can end arguments;
it settles disputes between powerful opponents.
Most of us probably feel that flipping a coin to make decisions is just a game of chance, but throughout scripture, we see that it is often used. If you have to make a choice between two equally good choices, it may be a very good tool to use to make a final decision. Even when there is a dispute that is not being settled, consider flipping a coin. It is fair for everyone involved.
19 An offended friend is harder to win back than a fortified city.
Arguments separate friends like a gate locked with bars.
Arguments between friends should not happen if we truly have our friend’s best interest in mind, but the fact is that they do. Keep the question “Is it worth it?” in mind before saying or doing something that might cause a friend to be offended. Offending or arguing with a friend can cause damage that will take years to repair, if it is possible at all. Is it worth offending another or winning an argument? It would be much better to lose an argument and keep a friend.
20 Wise words satisfy like a good meal;
the right words bring satisfaction.
When you hear truly wise words from a wise person, they are like eating a deliciously prepared meal. They just “hit the spot.” The right words are satisfying to the soul as a great meal is to the body.
21 The tongue can bring death or life;
those who love to talk will reap the consequences.
The tongue is one of the smallest organs of our body, and yet it has the capacity to cause more damage and harm than any other part. You can destroy a person with the words that you say, or you can encourage and breathe life into that same person. It is up to you. The problem with people that love to talk is that they will inevitably hurt someone with their many words. It is best to only speak when it is needed, helpful, and encouraging to others.
22 The man who finds a wife finds a treasure,
and he receives favor from the Lord.
I can only speak from my personal experience, but for me, Paula is a treasure in my life. I cannot imagine being in a marriage where there is strife and turmoil. A marriage built on God’s precepts with a mutual love for each other and for God is a blessing. I have received favor from the Lord in my marriage.
23 The poor plead for mercy;
the rich answer with insults.
God has compassion on those who are poor. If we have resources beyond our needs, we should not wait for the poor to plead for mercy before assisting them but rather be willing and ready to help others. If you do have wealth, you should not answer the poor with insults and no compassion. We should show our love for God through our love to other people, especially the less fortunate.
24 There are “friends” who destroy each other,
but a real friend sticks closer than a brother.
A true friend will be there during good and bad times. They will even be more available than a physical brother, especially if they live close by. If you see those who are supposed to be friends, but they don’t care for or assist each other, then they are not true friends.
The nuggets of wisdom that we gathered in verses 13-24 of Proverbs 18 provide more tasty morsels of wisdom, insight, and understanding. Regardless of your faith walk, if the precepts in Proverbs are followed, your life will be rich and satisfying. Take them and plant them in your heart so that you will reap a harvest of goodness.
Tomorrow we will hike another short trail of Wisdom Unplugged on which we will discover an inspirational wisdom quote. So encourage your friends and family to join us, and then come along with us tomorrow for another day of our Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy.
That will finish our trek for today. As you enjoy these daily doses of wisdom, we ask you to help us grow Wisdom-Trek by sharing with your family and friends through email, Facebook, Twitter, or in person and inviting them to come along with us each day. If you would like to listen to any of the past daily treks, they are available at Wisdom-Trek.com. Don’t forget to subscribe to Wisdom-Trek, so each trek will be downloaded to you automatically.
Thank you for allowing me to be your guide, mentor, and most of all your friend as I serve you through the Wisdom-Trek podcast and journal.
As we take this trek of life together, let us always:
- Live Abundantly (Fully)
- Love Unconditionally
- Listen Intentionally
- Learn Continuously
- Lend to others Generously
- Lead with Integrity
- Leave a Living Legacy Each Day
This is Guthrie Chamberlain reminding you to Keep Moving Forward, Enjoy Your Journey, and Create a Great Day Every Day! See you tomorrow!