Proverbs 16:28

Verse of the Day Devotion Proverbs 16:28

“A perverse man spreads strife, and a slanderer separates intimate friends.” – Proverbs 16:28  

Solomon, the author of Proverbs, is writing here regarding causing strife. This happens so much in this world. I have experienced this multiple times in work environments where someone who desires to move up will say things about others that are detrimental to their reputations so that they can possibly take over their position. And there are many other examples of this idea, where people are hurt by the words of another, and this results in divisiveness.

Lets start with the verse above our focus verse. “A worthless man digs up evil, While his words are as a scorching fire.” Proverbs 16:27. The Hebrew word here for worthless is belı̂ya‛al which has the idea of someone who is wicked and Godless. Going back to the verse, a wicked and Godless man works to dig up evil about a person. Any bad thing they hear about someone they will pass around, letting as many people know as possible. The analogy is a wicked man who labors much to bring about an evil purpose, as the quarryman does to dig up stones. The sense is that for the ungodly man, the evil he casually finds is not enough to satisfy his desire, therefore he digs around to pursue any evil he can come up with. And when he digs up evil, he cannot keep it to himself. He must spread it from his lips as if it were a burning fire. What he finds he spreads, like a scorching fire.  And this simile speaks of the devastating effect these words can have on that person.

Now, moving on to our focus verse, “A perverse man spreads strife, And a slanderer separates intimate friends.” Proverbs 16:28. The idea of this word perverse is a deliberate and obstinate desire to behave in a way that is unreasonable or unacceptable, often despite possible consequences.  Solomon states that a perverse person spreads strife through the method of tale-bearing of gossiping. They find out something bad about someone and their desire is to let people know what this person said or did, without any thought about the affect it may have on that person.  It is like a whisperer who goes amount secretly telling people what they know.  A modern word for this activity is gossiping, which is unconstrained conversations or reports about other people, typically involving information which the gossiper has incomplete information on. And the information spread is predominately malicious, misrepresenting the truth.  This can also be deemed as slander, which our focus verse states can cause intimate friendships to end, which is division.  And Paul had harsh words for those who cause division. “Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them. For such men are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own appetites; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting.” Romans 16:17-18.

I encourage everyone to watch out that they do not find themselves spreading words that could be hurtful to anyone or cause any form of division between people. This is not love, and we need to avoid such activities. Paul, again, wrote regarding gossip, “Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, that it may give grace to those who hear.” Ephesians 4:29.  Our speech should provide encouragement to all, consolation where needed, and joy to all who hear it.  It must be words that bring us together and not divide us. It should help people understand what Christianity is all about and should provide reasons for the unsaved to desire and ultimately accept the salvation Jesus provided. This is what God has called us to do.  Let us not deviate from the good speech that helps people in their walk, causing them to question the reality of Christianity and possibly abandoning belief in Christ altogether.

William Funkhouser MDiv, ThD, Founder and President of True Devotion Ministries. 

Proverbs 15:18

Verse of the Day Devotion: Proverbs 15:18 

“A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but the slow to anger calms a dispute.” – Proverbs 15:18      

Have you ever been in a discussion with someone on a topic where the two of you did not agree?  I have at times.  Everything starts out ok, but then something happens and suddenly one or both of you begin showing signs of animosity.  It can start out slow, but if things do not change, then the possibility of an intense argument becomes more probable.  This was likely not the direction either of you anticipated.  You were simply wanting to discuss a topic, and suddenly everything blew up. 

This is especially true if both are looking for a win and will do anything possible to be successful.  Especially if both parties have the same goal.  At this point, the possibility of an amiable conversation becomes less likely.  And the more entrenched both parties are, the possibility becomes stronger each will leave angry at the other.  However, the second part of this verse describes how we are to handle any discussion, no matter how much we differ regarding the topic.  We are to be slow to anger, not trying necessarily to win the debate, but to be calm and present our case.  Anger does little in presenting what we believe, in fact, it will probably harden them to their own view of the topic.  Meekness is a better attitude in these situations.  You can bring up your opinion or belief, but not in an argumentative way.  Present all arguments on both sides, and if there is no agreement, leave as is.  There may be reasons why each sees things the way they do.  It is not worth arguing because all it will do is close minds.  Then, even if they come to believe you, they may never admit it or act on it.

This is especially important when we, as Christians, are one of the parties in a conversation.  Doubly so when not everyone involved is a Christian.  The issue in either case is our witness.  It would not be good for others to see us being angry and offensive during a discussion if they know we are a Christian.  What if we, in the process of trying to prove our point, call the other person a derogatory name?  Not only will this undoubtedly close the mind of the person, it can also cause others hearing our conversation to question our faith, to the point where they may even see us as a fake Christian.  They will see us as someone not living the life we profess.  Paul says it this way.  “Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.” Ephesians 4:29. He also adds, “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.”  Ephesians 4:30-31.  Note, we are not to exhibit bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, malice, and slander.  This pretty much does away with all negative expressions we could present.  In fact, we are to do all to God’s glory.  “Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.” Colossians 3:17

We are to show love to all we come into contact with, whether we agree or not.  To argue does not help our cause, in fact, it degrades our ability to be a consistent witness.  We are to go out and be Christ’s hands and feet on the earth.  We are to show the love of God to a world that needs to hear it even though they may not think they do.  We are to be a light in the darkness.  “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16.  It is our calling; it is our mission.

William Funkhouser MDiv, ThD, Founder and President of True Devotion Ministries, Inc.