DAY 1 – JUNE 6
TITLE: “HOLD YOUR TONGUE”
WEEKLY SCRIPTURE READING: PROVERBS 10:19-21,
31-32, 12:18-19, 15:1-7
DAILY SCRIPTURE READING: Proverbs
10:19-21
Key Verse: “When words
are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise.” Proverbs
10:19
Have your
words ever got you in trouble? British shock-radio host Tim Shaw found that his
words caused him a lot of trouble. While working his usual 10 p.m. to 1 a.m.
shift, Shaw told a girl he was interviewing on air that he was willing to leave
his wife and two kids for her. Minutes later, his wife, Hayley, created an eBay
auction for her husband’s car, a Lotus Espirit Turbo. The auction page was
almost completely blank except for a picture of the car and the following
words: “I need to get rid of this car immediately—ideally in the next 2-3 hours,
before my cheating husband gets home to find it gone and all his belongings in
the street. I am the registered owner and I have the [registration]. Please
only buy if you can pick up tonight.”
The car valued
at approximately $45,000—was listed with a “Buy-it-Now” price of 50 pence
($.90), and the auction lasted exactly 5 minutes and 3 seconds before an
anonymous buyer paid for it and drove away. In a later interview with
reporters, Mrs. Shaw said that she was “sick of her husband disrespecting this
family for the sake of his act.”
Careless
words can cause a lot of trouble. When we let our tongues get out of control,
the consequences can harm everyone around us. The tongue can cause a lot of
trouble when it is let loose. Listen to the words of James. He wrote, “When we put bits into the mouths of horses
to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an
example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are
steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise the
tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a
great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a
world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, set
the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.”
James 3:3-7.
In April of
this year, fires in Texas destroyed over a million acres of land and many, many
homes. The destruction of the fires is hard to describe in words. Scripture
says that the tongue can start a great and destructive fire. Godly wisdom
instructs us to hold our tongues.
Oh, be careful little
mouth, what you say,
Oh, be careful little mouth, what you say,
For the Father up above,
Is looking down in love,
So be careful little mouth what you say.
DAY 2 – JUNE 7
TITLE: “THE LIPS OF
THE RIGHTEOUS”
WEEKLY SCRIPTURE
READING: PROVERBS 10:19-21, 31-32, 12:18-19, 15:1-7
DAILY SCRIPTURE
READING: Proverbs 10:31-32
Key Verse: “The lips of the righteous know what is
fitting, but the mouth of the wicked only what is perverse.” Proverbs 10:32
There
is a story about a man working in the produce department. He was asked by a
lady if she could buy half a head of lettuce. He replied, "Half a head?
Are you serious? God grows these in whole heads and that's how we sell
them!" "You mean," she persisted, "that after all the years
I've shopped here, you won't sell me half-a-head of lettuce?" "Look," he said, "If you like,
I'll ask the manager." She
indicated how that would be appreciated, so the young man marched to the front
of the store. "You won't believe this, but there's a lame-brained idiot of
a lady back there who wants to know if she can buy half-a-head of
lettuce."
He noticed
the manager gesturing and turned around to see the lady standing behind him,
obviously having followed him to the front of the store. "And this nice
lady was wondering if she could buy the other half," he concluded. Later
in the day, the manager cornered the young man and said, "That was the
finest example of thinking on your feet I've ever seen! Where did you learn
that?" "I grew up in Grand Rapids, and if you know anything about
Grand Rapids, you know that it's known for its great hockey teams and its ugly women." The manager's face flushed, and he
interrupted, "My wife is from Grand Rapids!" "And which hockey
team did she play for?"
Proverbs
10:31 says, “The mouth of the righteous
brings forth wisdom, but a perverse tongue will be cut out.” Like a well-cared
vine that brings forth fruit, the words of the righteous flourish with wisdom. In
contrast, the wicked speak perverse words that are barren.
Focusing
on the contrast between the speech of the righteous and the speech of the
wicked, the point is brought out that the speech of the righteous is fitting.
This word translated as “fitting” in the NIV carries the thought of favorable,
good or kind. In other words, the words of the wise can accomplish much good by
speaking that which is appropriate. Proverbs 25:11 says, “A word aptly spoken is like
apples of gold in setting of silver.” Proverbs 15:23 expresses the same
general idea when it states, “A man finds joy in giving an apt reply-and how good is a timely
word!”
In
contrast, from the second half of the today’s verse, “the mouth of the wicked only what is perverse,” the word “perverse”
carries the meaning of unfaithfulness, wickedness, and deception. It refers
that that which is unlike what God would want us to say. These verse points to
the importance and wisdom of being in a right relationship with God. A right relationship with God will impact the
words we speak.
DAY 3 – JUNE 8
TITLE: “TRUTHFUL
LIPS”
WEEKLY SCRIPTURE
READING: PROVERBS 10:19-21, 31-32 12:18-19, 15:1-7
DAILY SCRIPTURE READING: Proverbs 12:18-19
Key Verse: “Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying
tongue lasts only a moment.” Proverbs 12:19
In
2008, New York Magazine ran a
comprehensive article about research concerning kids and lying. The title of it
was “Learning to Lie.” In one study, researchers gathered a group of children
together and read them a version of “The Boy Who Cried Wolf” where the little
boy is eaten by the wolf because he lies. In a survey of adults taken before
the study, most thought the negative consequences in “The Boy Who Cried Wolf”
would lead the children to be more honest in controlled experiments on honesty
and deceit. However, after hearing the story, researchers observed that the
children continued their usual rate of lying. Researchers then taught the story
of George Washington and the cherry tree. In the story, George goes to his
father and confesses he cut down the tree. His father replies, "Hearing
you tell the truth instead of a lie is better than if I had a thousand cherry
trees." Researchers found that the story of George Washington and the
cherry tree reduced lying by 43 percent. They concluded that the threat of
punishment simply teaches children to learn how to lie better. When children
learn the worth of honesty, as they did in the story of George Washington, they
lie less.
In
a study of teenagers regarding degrees of honesty and deceit, researchers found
most parents believe being permissive will encourage openness and honesty from
their kids. Parents of teenagers would rather be informed than strict and
"in the dark." However, researchers discovered a "no rules"
policy simply doesn't work. One researcher noted, "Kids who go wild and
get in trouble…have parents who don't set rules or standards. Their parents are
loving and accepting no matter what the kids do, but
the kids take the lack of rules as a sign their parents don't care—that their
parent doesn't really want [the] job of being the parent… Ironically, the types
of parents who are actually most consistent in enforcing rules are the same
parents who are most warm and have the most conversations with their
kids." Though some rules result in arguments between parents and teens,
only 23 percent of the teenagers surveyed considered these conflicts harmful to
their relationship with their parents.
In
a final study, adults were asked to disclose the worst lie they ever told. It
was concluded, “Lies told during childhood affected their behavior later on. If
they got caught and felt bad, they vowed never to do it again. But if they were
good at it and got away with it, they would lie more often into their teens and
adulthood."
The
truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth was an extremely important
matter in the Old Testament. The message of the ninth of the Ten Commandments is simply and clearly,
“tell the truth.” The importance of speaking the truth in the Old
Testament cannot be overstated. The prophet Zechariah said, “‘These are the
things you are to do: Speak the truth to each other, and render true and sound
judgment in your courts; do not plot evil against your neighbor, and do not
love to swear falsely. I hate all this,’ declares the Lord.” Zechariah
8:16-17. God calls us to have truthful lips.
DAY 4 – JUNE 9
TITLE: “THE TONGUE IS A TOOL”
WEEKLY SCRIPTURE READING: PROVERBS
10:19-21, 31-32 12:18-10, 15:1-7
DAILY SCRIPTURE
Key Verse: “The
tongue that brings healing is a tree of life, but a deceitful tongue crushes
the spirit.” Proverbs 15:4
Rabbi Joseph Telushkin, author of Words
That Hurt, Words That Heal, has lectured throughout this country on the
powerful, and often negative, impact of words. He often asks audiences if they
can go 24 hours without saying any unkind words about, or to, another person.
Invariably, a small number of listeners raise their hands, signifying
"yes." Others laugh, and quite a large number call out,
"no!"
Telushkin responds, "Those who can't
answer 'yes' must recognize that you have a serious problem. If you cannot go
24 hours without drinking liquor, you are addicted to alcohol. If you cannot go
24 hours without smoking, you are addicted to nicotine. Similarly, if you
cannot go 24 hours without saying unkind words about others, then you have lost
control over your tongue."
The words we
speak can bring healing or harm. Words that are wholesome, uplifting,
nourishing and true are like a tree of life. However, a deceitful tongue is
destructive. Eugene Peterson paraphrases the verse by saying, “Kind words heal and help; cutting words
wound and maim.” (Message)
The words we
speak have consequences. Like ink spilled on paper, they leave a mark. Our
words can leave a legacy of healing or a legacy that crushes the spirit. Can
you think of a time when words spoken to you crushed your spirit? Can you think
of a time when the word spoken to you brought healing?
One evening,
after my mother had passed away, I remember spending the night with a friend. I
would have been about ten. My friend’s mom came in and talked with my friend
and gave him a big hug and kiss. As I lay there, my heart was hurting, as I did
not have a mom to bring comfort and encouragement to me. After she finished
talking with her son, she came and spoke some words of comfort to me. Then she
gave me a hug and kiss. I cannot express what those words and that hug and kiss
meant to this ten-year-old boy. They were healing words to the hurting heart of
a ten-year-old boy who had recently lost his mother. Who might you bring
healing to this week through the words you speak? The tongue is a tool. How will you use it?
A careless
word may kindle strife;
A cruel word may wreck a life;
A timely word may lessen stress;
A loving word may heal and bless. --Anon.
DAY 5 – JUNE 10
TITLE: “THE LIPS OF THE WISE”
WEEKLY SCRIPTURE READING: PROVERBS
10:19-21, 31-32, 12:18-19, 15:1-7
DAILY SCRIPTURE READING: Proverbs 15:
5-7
Key Verse: “The lips of the wise spread knowledge; not so the hearts of fools.”
Proverbs 15:7
As a kid
growing up, I did a lot of yard work. I had the responsibility of taking care
of the yard at our house, but my dad did not believe that was enough. He wanted
me to learn to work hard and to develop a good work ethic. For that reason, I
did a lot of yard work in the neighborhood, as well. Though I have done a lot
of yard work though the years, it has never been my favorite thing to do.
With the
weather changing, it is time to mow the yard. Earlier this week, after work, I
went out and mowed the lawn. Though it has not been quite a week, I can tell
that within a few days, I will need to go and mow it again. Part of the reason
for that is the fertilizer I spread across the yard. In spreading the
fertilizer across the yard, I provided that which was needed to help it thrive.
People with godly
wisdom are to spread knowledge. The lips are tools that can be used to spread
wisdom and understanding. The lips are tools that can spread truth our lies,
hope or discouragement, wisdom or ignorance, and understanding or
misunderstanding. What our lips spread matters. If I had spread weed seed in
the yard, the result would have been weeds. We are called to use are lips to
spread knowledge. The hearts of the fool does not spread knowledge.
What are you
using your lips to do and spread? A knife can be a valuable tool or instrument.
At the same time, it can be a dangerous and harmful instrument when used by the
wrong hands in the wrong way. How will you use your lips this week?
Take my life, and let it be;
Consecrated, Lord, to Thee;
Take my moments and my days; Let them
flow in ceaseless praise.
Let them flow in ceaseless praise.
Take my hands, and let them move; At the impulse of Thy love;
Take my feet, and let them be; Swift
and beautiful for Thee.
Swift and beautiful for Thee.
Take my voice, and let me sing;
Always, only, for my King;
Take my lips, and let them be; Filled
with messages from Thee.
Filled with messages from Thee.
Take my will, and make it Thine; It shall be no longer mine;
Take my heart, it is Thine own; It shall be Thy royal throne.
It shall be Thy royal throne.