Talk of lips/True witness/Fear of Lord/King's honor/Sound heart

Let us not waste our time in unnecessary gossip. In the Pilgrim's Progress, I find that in the house of Interpreter, in the Porter's Lodge, in the house of Gaius and in the house of Mnason, there were long debates on spiritual things. However, if we indulge in gossip, would end in spiritual poverty. We would lose all our blessings. Spend your precious time in interpreting the Scriptures and in minisering to the needy people around you. In all your labour, there is profit. Do not sit idle. But spend the moments of idling in prayer so that you may benefit from such labor.

Whatever labor you do in your house, there is profit. If you wash the dishes, iron or wash the clothes, there is profit.

Today, many preachers presume that they have to spend their entire life time in preaching. Preaching does not come under "all labour". Labour means working with your hands.

True witness versus deceitful witness

A true witness delivereth souls: but a deceitful witness speaketh lies. (Proverbs 14:25)

If we have to deliver souls from the bondage to sin and devil, we have to be true witnesses to God's work. Many pastors or ministers of God are not faithful enough to give a true account of what God has been doing or has done through their ministries. They give an exagerrated version or a lying report. If God has not healed some people, they tell lies that all the people who attended their meetings were blessed by God. At times, they compel some people to be deceitful witnesses.

Fear of the Lord

(Verses 26 and 27 are clubbed together).

In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge. (Proverbs 14:26)

The fear of the Lord makes us desist from evil and makes us do good. This fear creates in our hearts a strong confidence which cannot be shaken by any adverse wind. Our confidence is anchored on the Lord Himself.

The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death. (Proverbs 14:27)

The fear of the Lord becomes a fountain of life for all our generations. Our children, grand-children and great grand children will reap the fruits. If we want our children to progress in their profession or career or education, we have to instil in them the fear of the Lord. The fear of the Lord does not mean potraying God in His retributive character but revealing the whole character of God through the Scriptures. This fear does come from the whole knowledge of God.

King's honour

In the multitude of people is the king's honour: but in the want of people is the destruction of the prince. (Proverbs 14:28)

A growing population in a nation shows that the king is good. People from neihbouring nations migrate to that nation where the ruler is good to the people. If the ruler is an autocract living on the sacrifices of the people, then the ruler himself is destroyed.

Sound heart and envy

A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones. (Proverbs 14:30)

You should have a sound mind at all times. A sound mind gives you good health. Today we do not have good health because of a fearful heart. Our heart is not sound. Fear grips our heart. We fear for everything in this world. Fear weakens our flesh. Envy results in the deseases of our bones. Envy is the powerful enemy that reduces our life span. We envy when others are blessed. We envy when others get some blessings which we have not got. It indirectly affects the bones in our body.

Next......Oppressingpoor/Wicked versus righteous/ Righteousness exalting nation/ King's favour