“The tongue of the righteous is as choice silver, the heart of the wicked is worth little” ( Proverbs 10:20 20 The tongue of the righteous is `as' choice silver: The heart of the wicked is little worth. ).

A fool desires to share his folly with others.

Proverbs 1:7 7 The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of knowledge; `But' the foolish despise wisdom and instruction. says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.” Wisdom, as defined in the Book of Proverbs, is living by divine standards, which implies accepting divine truth. But a fool rejects that. First Corinthians 2:14 says that “a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him.” To a fool, foolishness is wisdom and wisdom is foolishness. That a fool rejects God’s wisdom is evident by the way he speaks. Proverbs 15:2 2 The tongue of the wise uttereth knowledge aright; But the mouth of fools poureth out folly. says, “The tongue of the wise makes knowledge acceptable, but the mouth of fools spouts folly.” In other words, a fool is quick to air his opinions. Just as a bitter fountain produces bitter water, and a rotten tree produces rotten fruit, so also a fool produces foolishness—speaking on his own authority and generating his own opinions. The world is full of the opinions of fools—fools who have denied God in their living, who have become their own gods, and who mock the reality and consequences of sin.

A fool not only is quick to air his opinions but also propagates his foolishness to others. Proverbs 16:22 22 Understanding is a well-spring of life unto him that hath it; But the correction of fools is `their' folly. says that the instruction of fools is folly. The fool contaminates the rest of society with the same foolishness that damns his own soul. He leaves it as a legacy to his children, his friends, and all those who fall under the influence of his folly.

In contrast to fools, you as a believer are blessed to have the Spirit of wisdom indwelling you and illuminating your understanding of His Word. Your words to others are based on the wisdom of Scripture, not empty speculation. By bringing His Word to mind in every circumstance, you can speak words that are “like apples of gold in settings of silver” (Prov. 25:11).

Suggestions for Prayer

Thank God for teaching us how we should speak—and not speak—through His Word.

For Further Study

• What does Colossians 4:6 6 Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer each one. say about our speech?
• What further insight do each of these verses add: Matthew 12:36 36 And I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. ; Mark 9:50 50 Salt is good: but if the salt have lost its saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace one with another. ; Ephesians 4:29 29 Let no corrupt speech proceed out of your mouth, but such as is good for edifying as the need may be, that it may give grace to them that hear. ?

From Strength for Today by John MacArthur Copyright © 1997. Used by permission of Crossway Books, a division of Good News Publishers, Wheaton, IL 60187, www.crossway.com.

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