Chapter 15

CHAPTER 15

Soft words and tongue of the wise

A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger (Proverbs 15:1).

In every situation, we have to give a soft answer even when provoked. When people shout at you angrily, you should not lose your temper but answer patiently.

We should avoid grievous words that would hurt the feelings of others. Many of us do not know how to use our tongue. Our words should not hurt others. There has to be clarity in our words so that others may understand our message correctly. We should learn to speak softly or to utter soft words.

The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness (Proverbs 15:2)

Our tongue should always reveal knowledge of what we know. We have to express ourselves in a manner to be understood by others. Knowledge does not mean what we have learnt through our head. It is the knowledge that we have learnt out of experience. Modern-day academics fail us because we teach something which we have not experienced. They teach from some syllabus prepared by some learned people. If the teacher is given option to slightly modify the fixed syllabus in order to teach the syllabus out of his own experience, it will definitely impact the hearts of students. Teachers have to be given some general syllabus which they should teach from their own experiences. There are variable and invariable syllabuses. Invariable are those scientific inventions which we cannot change. Variation are those subjects that are variable with the times. I can teach a variable subject out of my own experience. In other words, I can teach what i have seen, read or learnt on my own. If we are wise, we can impart knowledge from our own life.

Eyes of the Lord

The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good (Proverbs 15:3).

Our Lord is omnipresent. The Holy Spirit indwells us and also dwells in every nook and corner of the world. Today, we find those in authority suppress the truth and spread lies thinking that no one has witnessed what they have done in secret places. But the eyes of the Lord has recorded what they had done. They may cheat the judiciary and the world at large. The Lord can show everything to them which the media had not reported. The divine judgment is based on truthful evidence which cannot be tampered with. The Lord Himself will be a witness against you.

Wholesome tongue and lips of the wise

(Verses 4 and 7 are clubbed together).

A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit (Proverbs 15:4).

Our tongue has to be wholesome, meaning health-giving, healthful, good,

moral, ethical, nice, clean, virtuous, pure, innocent, chaste. The tongue reveals our character. Our tongue becomes wholesome when we are filled with the Holy Spirit or when the Holy Spirit indwells us. We do not know this truth even after accepting Jesus as our Saviour. There is Another Person living in your heart. When you open your mouth, you have to gently ask Him to speak for you. He gives you the utterance. You should have the consciousness of His presence in your heart.

Preachers of the Word speak God's messages from pulpits but when we meet them personally, they speak another language which emanates from their very life. What they preach from the pulpits is what they have learnt. What they speak in their routine at times appears to be perverse. This perverseness is a breach in the spirit as it reveals their true character which is different from the character of the One who indwells them. By their words, they honour the Holy Spirit but by their own lives, they suppress and humiliate the indwelling Holy Spirit.

The lips of the wise disperse knowledge: but the heart of the foolish doeth not so (Proverbs 15:7).

If we become wise listening to the indwelling Holy Spirit, we should speak those words that disperse true knowledge which would edify those who hear us. True knowledge comes from our heart and not from our head. True knowledge is taught by the indwelling Holy Spirit who brings to our memory what we have experienced in our life. It is the Holy Spirit who gives us the utterance when we speak.

The foolish are those who do not feel the presence of the Holy Spirit in them. They put a bushel on the lamp and prevent it from giving light. In our churches, we are taught a false doctrine that when we pray, the Holy Spirit descends from the heaven; the Holy Spirit anoints a person when the pastor or a servant of God lays down his hands on our heads. The Holy Spirit who has already taken abode in our heart will not go up and then come down on us when a servant of God lays his hands upon our heads. There are thousands of Christians who become fools in the eyes of God when they suppress the Holy Spirit in them and look for Him elsewhere.

Fool despising instruction

A fool despiseth his father's instruction: but he that regardeth reproof is prudent (Proverbs 15:5).

Father means the Heavenly Father and also the earthly father. The Heavenly father is represented by a spiritual father who mentors you in the word of God. The earthly father can also become your spiritual father.

As a spiritual baby, you needs to be mentored by a spiritual father till you become a mature person. You have to be under the tutelage of a man or a woman of God till you attain spiritual maturity. After coming out of the tutelage of a human guide, you continue to be under the tutelage of the Heavenly Father until your departure for the Celestial City. Reproof by your spiritual father is essential for your spiritual growth. If the pastor of your church becomes your spiritual father, the former has to mentor you in a personal manner by way of reproof.

If you despise the instructions of your spiritual guide, you become a fool in the sight of God. If you regard reproof, you becomes prudent in this life. You can shine as a star on the galaxy in this world.

Today, our young children have no spiritual fathers to mentor them and to make them prudent. Thousands of our young generation could have attained the highest positions in this world if they had been prudent after accepting reproof from their spiritual fathers. Our spiritual fathers have a greater role in shaping the character of our younger generation. We need to bring the seminary or the Bible college into our churches to teach and equip the younger generation. The seminary or the Bible college just make them acquire theological degrees to make them pastors or evangelists. But the seminary or the Bible college inside our churches would make them excel in their education so as to acquire enviable positions in the world.

As such, we need spiritual fathers in our churches to mentor the younger generation not merely teaching the scriptures but also moulding their characters.

Treasure in house of righteous

In the house of the righteous is much treasure: but in the revenues of the wicked is trouble (Proverbs 15:6).

The righteous has much treasure if he or she has very little bank balance. The money earned by them by virtue of hard work without indulging in illegal or corrupt means, be little or much would last perpetually for their descendants. If the wicked has mllions of dollars in banks which he or she has acquired through illegal means, this money will not bring any real blessing to those who enjoy it. There will be real troubles at home or elsewhere. This money will be a curse for their entire generations down the line.

Sacrifice and way of wicked

The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord: but the prayer of the upright is his delight (Proverbs 15:8).

Those children of God who become wicked in the sight of God offer their sacrifices. By evil deeds, the children of the light become wicked. So long as their personal lives are not acceptable to God, their sacrifices are also not acceptable. They cannot buy God's blessings by giving their money to churches or missions.

Today, many of us participate in prayers to pray for our nation or for our churches or missions. But if our personal life is not upright, then our prayers are not accepted by God. You may pray in a loud voice or in a emotional manner just to impress others. You may stand on a dais to lead the prayer warriors in prayers of intercession. But if your private life is wicked, then your ministry will be in vain. God may not hear the whole corporate prayer of the prayer warriors even if you lead them from the front. Stand on the holy ground and lead the prayer warriors. It is not the number of prayer warriors but the lives of prayer warriors even if they are a few but are upright that becomes the delight of God.

The way of the wicked is an abomination unto the Lord: but he loveth him that followeth after righteousness (Proverbs 15:9).

In the preceding verse, we have learnt about the sacrifice of the wicked. The way of the wicked is also an abomination unto the Lord. You may be a child of God but have become wicked by virtue of your deeds. Your wicked way of life becomes abominable. You should follow after righteousness. Remember where you have fallen by your wicked deed and repent and follow after righteousness. Do not presume that since you have the righteousness of Christ imputed to you, you can live in any manner as you wish. The righteousness of Christ in you has to be revealed by your outward acts.

Correction and reproof

(Verses 10 and 12 are clubbed together).

Correction is grievous unto him that forsaketh the way: and he that hateth reproof shall die (Proverbs 15:10).

Nowadays, the most despised thing is correction. This is very popular among our Christian preachers who preach wrongly. They do not accept reproof from the people who hear their false doctrines. Many of them have since fallen due to sheer pride as they were not open to correction. They have since forwaken the way by which they were supposed to go.

We should always open our heart to correction. Visionary business leaders expand their empires because they keep correcting their wrong policies but our Christian leaders do not correct themselves. They do not want to correct themselves sitting at the feet of the Lord. If you send any mail to any celebrity preachers conveying reproof, you will not get any response from them. They presume that they are always right and those who disagree with them are wrong.

A scorner loveth not one that reproveth him: neither will he go unto the wise (Proverbs 15:12).

A scorner is someone who jeers or mocks or treats something with contempt or calls out in derision.

When we do not accept corrections by way of reproof, we become scorners in the sight of God. When we become scorners, the rod of divine judgment falls on our heads. Today, many of us are being punished by God because we have become scorners in His sight. Let us put on humility and accept corrections.

Existence of hell

(Verses 11 and 24 are clubbed together).

Hell and destruction are before the LORD: how much more then the hearts of the children of men? (Proverbs 15:11)

The Lord had not created the hell originally as He created that was good. But the devil forsook the Heaven and fell down and God had to make a place for the devil and the angels who sinned against God. The devil is reigning this place and is taking the souls into this place.

The hearts of men should fear and know the truth about hell and destruction. Evangelists have to preach about hell and destruction.

Way of life

The way of life is above to the wise, that he may depart from hell beneath (Proverbs 15:24).

The way of life is shown by the wise to those who are on the way to perdition. It is the gospel of Christ that saves the mankind from the hell. Preachers of gospel are the wise who impart eternal life to those who are dead in sin.

Merriness and sorrow

(Verses 13 and 15 are clubbed together).

A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken (Proverbs 15:13).

In this world, where we have to spend most of our days in sorrow, we should learn to depend on God for everything. We become sad whenever we choose to walk in our own ways but not in the ways ordained of God. God wants us to be cheerful and to be happy in this world. A parent would like to see his child always happy and not sad. If we have to have a merry heart, we should walk in the ways of God and God would guide us in His ways as we seek His face.

All the days of the afflicted are evil: but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast (Proverbs 15:15).

Why should we be afflicted all the days of our life? It is not God's will that we should spend our days in affliction. God has not ordained days of evil but days of good. But we make these days evil. God does not make our days evil. Whenever we face affliction, we should examine our life to see whether such affliction comes from God to teach us some lesson. If you contract any disease to afflict your body, resist it by prayers. Take medicines by faith as it is God who ordains healing through medicines. Any virus in the air is caused by the devil who comes to steal and kill. In the Pilgrim's Progress, John Bunyan has introduced a character called Mr. Skill, a physician who prescribed medicines for the ailing son of Christiana.

God wants us to have a merry heart always. "Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice" (Phi.4:4). Possession of a merry heart gives you a continual feast of joy in your life.

Seeking knowledge and feeding on foolishness

The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge: but the mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness (Proverbs 15:14).

We should understand what happens in this world and in God's kingdom. Many of us do not know what happens around us. Thesedays, many of us do not take pains to read our newspapers. If we do not have knowledge of what happens around us and in the Body of Christ, how can we pray? Key to knowledge is very essential if we have to survive in this world. Mere biblical knowledge is not enough unless we corelate the prophetic events in the Bible to what happens before our eyes. Watch what happens before your eyes and then pray. Jesus said, “Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man” (Luke 21:34).

The mouth of fools feeds on foolishness. Fools do not seek knowledge and are just content with what they know. They do not know what happens in their own city or nation. They brag of knowing but do not know what they speak about. They keep talking on subjects on which they have no knowledge at all. Many Christian preachers also feed on foolishness. They blindly follow what has been traditionally handed over to them without searching the right words of knowledge in the Bible. Many preachers talk about giving of tithes which is not at all an instruction of the Lord. They do not take time to read the word of God in this regard under the Old Covenant and the New Covenant.

Little with the fear of the Lord

(Verses 16 and 17 may be clubbed together).

Better is little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble therewith (Proverbs 15:16).

Whatever we possess in this life, we should have fear of the Lord. It is better to have little in this world. If we have more properties and possessions, it will be very difficult to manage the same. Even if we have a little, we should have fear of the Lord. In this world, there are many multimillionaires ih this world. If one of them is not in Christ Jesus and has not given his treasure for charity reserving such treasure for him or her and for his or her future generations as necessary for their living, he or she will have perpetual trouble in his own house.

Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith (Proverbs 15:17).

When we have simple food with love among our family members, our food is better than a dinner in a five star hotel.

Let us have a simple life style even if we have no money to afford a luxurious life style. A Christian businessman should spend more of his business income for charity and for Christian missions. Otherwise, he will reap the whirlwind. Even if he earns legal income, spends it lavishly for himself and accumulates assets for his future generations without earmarking more of his income for charity and for Christian missions, he will be likened to the richman who found himself in the hell because he failed to minister to the poor Lazarus who was lying near his gate.

Wrathful man

A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife (Proverbs 15:18).

We are prone to be angry when we are provoked. Let us remain cool when angry and let not open our mouth. If you face a wrathful man, you have to be careful. Let the wrathful man speak out what in his mind is. Hear him patiently. Do not get angry. If you are at fault, quickly admit your mistake and seek his pardon. If he is at fault, prayerfully seek the help of the Holy Spirit who will give you the right word to speak to that man.

Even if there is a tumult in your neighbourhood, you can prayerfully bind the spirit of strife in Jesus' Name and bring about peace in that area. The Prince of Peace in you will bring the tumult under His control.

Slothful man versus righteous man

The way of the slothful man is as an hedge of thorns: but the way of the righteous is made plain (Proverbs 15:19).

The way of a slothful man who wastes away his precious time in sleep and idling is full of thorns because he did not find time to clear the thorns and stones on his path when he stumbled on the way. Many of us just postpone our work due to laziness. Today is the day you have to do your work. Tomorrow is not yours. If we do not walk on the path ordained of God, in due course, this path becomes not treadable as it will be full of thorns and bristles.

When the righteous man walks by the way ordained of God, the way becomes very smooth as he keeps walking on the way umpteen times. The slothful man is afraid of walking on the way meant for him. The righteous should not become slothful. In the Pilgrim's progress, Christian came across three sleeping men. One of them was Sloth who said, "Yet a little more sleep".

Wise son and foolish man

A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish man despiseth his mother (Proverbs 15:20).

In the book of Proverbs, the word "father" is generally applicable to a spiritual father who takes care of his spiritual children. The father becomes happy when one of his wise sons makes the former glad. Here, the son is not merely a male son but also a female daughter. A child be it female or male but acts like a son. Today, many spiritual children do not obey their spiritual fathers i.e. pastors and the pastors concerned do not love their spiritual children as their own. Pastors just want to give long sermons to their spiritual children but do not mentor them in a personal manner.

A foolish son despises his mother. There is a spiritual mother for every one of us in the body of Christ. They are those servants of God who beget us through the gospel. They take care of us after spiritual birth. Today, evangelists after giving birth to spiritual children do not take care of them personally. Instead, they try to get benefits from such spiritual children by extracting offerings from them. Both the spiritual father and the spiritual mother are supposed to mentor their spiritual children. Since they fail to mentor their spiritual children, they become foolish in the sight of God as they remain babes for ever. A true spiritual mother feels the heaviness in her heart when his son becomes foolish without the knowledge of God and of His word.

The elders in the body of Christ are supposed to make their spiritual children wise and not foolish.

Folly devoid of wisdom

Folly is joy to him that is destitute of wisdom: but a man of understanding walketh uprightly (Proverbs 15:21).

In the entire book of Proverbs, the most often used word is wisdom. Wisdom is different from knowledge that we acquire. Wisdom is not acquired but is imparted by God to those who become His children after accepting Jesus into their heart. God gives His wisdom to us as a gift. This is the precious gift that we should desire. A man who is destitute of wisdom becomes a fool. He or she does not know how to speak or write, how to act, how to behave. He or she earns folly as a result of being foolish. The folly appears to be joyful but in the end there will be vexation of spirit. You will lose your joy in the Lord.

But a man of understanding who has the gift of wisdom understands everything with the mind of Christ Jesus as he or she has the mind of Christ. He or she walks uprightly in this world without bowing to any human being or without fear.

Importance of counsel and answer of mouth

(Verses 22 and 23 are clubbed together).

Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established (Proverbs 15:22).

In every organization, counsel is very important. New employees need counseling. Old employees need counseling for improving their performances. In families, parents need to counsel their children at every stage. The important ministry neglected in churches is counseling because there are no counsellors. Pastors give sermons and do not counsel their congregation members individually.

A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it! (Proverbs 15:23)

One gets real joy when he ministers life to others through the words of his or her mouth. He or she has to give right answers to someone who is in need of such an answer. If you have wisdom, you would definitely get give a right word of encouragement or a right word of answer to a needy person. Today, many people do suffer want of right counsel. Lives are destroyed for want of counsel. Many people commit suicide for want of counsel. If there were councillors, precious lives could have been saved.

The proud and the widow

The Lord will destroy the house of the proud: but he will establish the border of the widow (Proverbs 15:25).

It is quite disheartening to note that the Lord would destroy the house of the proud. Even if the proud people happen to be His chosen children also, the Lord would destroy their houses. Today, many of us, especially those in God's ministry are arrogant. The Lord does not make any distinction between the saved and the unsaved here.

God takes care of widows and establish their homes. Believing widows will never be forsaken by God. Widows of men who died in Christ Jesus are taken care of by the Lord Himself. They will never beg for alms even if they have been forsaken by sons or daughters. Even if they live in old age homes, God is there to look after them. In the Pilgrim's Progress, Christiana after the death of her husband Christian begun to follow the footsteps of her husband for going to the Celestial City. God took care of her and her children at every stage, providing for their food and lodging, securing them from the hands of Appollyon, giants, etc. God met all their physical and spiritual needs.

Thoughts of the wicked

The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord: but the words of the pure are pleasant words (Proverbs 15:26).

The righteous should not become wicked. Once they become wicked, their thoughts become an abomination to the Lord. Their very thoughts, be it good or bad, are abhorred by God. A righteous person who had been doing many good deeds may become wicked by virtue of one bad deed. Christians who have the righteousness of God have to safeguard their faith by doing good deeds. Their faith in Christ Jesus has to be known by their good deeds. No doubt, they were not saved by their good deeds but by faith. But after getting saved by faith, they have to do good deeds. In other words, they were saved to do good deeds. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them (Ephesians 2:8-10).

Good deeds are not prayers or giving sermons. The following scriptures speak about good deeds.

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ (Matthew 7:21-23).

That the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:17)

And let our people learn to devote themselves to good works, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not be unfruitful. (Titus 3:14)

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 5:16)

The second part of this verse is that the words of the pure are pleasant words. Those who are in Christ Jesus are expected to be pure or holy in their lives. The words emanating from their mouth should bless others. They should not speak negative words to discourage those who are weak in faith or those who are in need of counseling.

Greedy of gain

He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house; but he that hateth gifts shall live (Proverbs 15:27).

There are many believers who are greedy of gain in everything. They are too self-centered that they do not seek the welfare of others. But troubles would visit their houses. Their prayers would be in vain. Today, many of our prayers are not answered by God because in the past, we would have definitely earned some undue gain due to greediness.

Many believers working in their offices or pastors in churches do expect "Christmas" or birthday gifts from others. If some people out of their love want to give you some gift, you can accept it prayerfully with thanksgiving. But you should not covet but hate it altogether. Gifts mean offerings, tithes, etc. Whatever comes to you from others which you do not earn legally by working with your own hands is a gift. If you learn to hate gifts, this would add long life to your existing life span and to the life spans of your family members. You would enjoy good health. Today many servants of God who are greedy of gain and who love gifts do not enjoy good health and their life span is cut short by divine judgment.

Heart of the righteous

The heart of the righteous studieth to answer: but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things (Proverbs 15:28).

A righteous person, one who has been made righteous through the blood of Jesus Christ, has a heart of understanding to give a right answer. It would be a word of wisdom. If this righteous person becomes wicked, then he will cease to give the word of wisdom but would pour out evil things. Today if any person, be it a believer or otherwise, speaks evil things, then he is no longer a righteous person but a wicked person. You have to be careful with your words. Your words would judge you. Do not speak words of discouragement or words instilling fear in the hearts of others.

Today, many of us pour out evil things. The children of the world should judge you by your words of wisdom. Seek wisdom as a gift from God.

Prayer of the righteous

The Lord is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous (Proverbs 15:29).

Today if your prayers are not heard by God, then you are a wicked person. You must have become wicked at one point of time in your past life. Even if you ask others to pray for you, God will not hear your prayers. "Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent". (Rev.2:5). You should know from whence you had fallen and then repent and start doing the first works that you had been doing earlier.

Light of the eyes and good report

The light of the eyes rejoiceth the heart: and a good report maketh the bones fat (Proverbs 15:30).

Our spiritual eyes should be full of the light of Jesus Christ. This light only rejoices our heart. The children of the world do not get joy under adverse circumstances but the children of the light rejoices even under adverse or negative circumstances because they abide in Christ and Christ abides in them.

We, the children of the light, should always give a good report. Even if we have to convey a bad but truthful report, our report should contain a word of encouragement and should not create any fear in the heart of recipients of reports. When we have to convey a report about the death of some one, we have to use such words like home call, entering glory, etc, in place of demise or death. Even if someone has failed in an examination, when we send a report to others, we have to speak the truth but should convey a good report stating that though X could not clear the examination, X would definitely clear it in the next attempt. Even if we see a lion in the forest, we can convey a message that this lion cannot harm us.

Christian newsreporters are different from the newsreporters in the world. While conveying a truthful report, we should always give a word of hope or encouragement.

Reproof of life

The ear that heareth the reproof of life abideth among the wise (Proverbs 15:31).

The gospel of Christ should contain reproof of life. Our words should contain reproof of life. Life has to be imparted to a dying soul. Today many of us do not reprove those who do not live the life of Christ Jesus. A young man in Christ started an argument with me without appreciating my point of view as he had a closed mindset. When I found that he was inspired by the spirit of arrogance, I had to rebuke him. The spirit of pride or arrogance working in the life of a believer cannot be discerned by him but by some elder who interacts with him or her. Open rebuke is better than secret love.

He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding (Proverbs 15:32).

Whenever an elder in the body of Christ reproves you or gives instructions, do not argue with him or her even if his or her instructions may not sound logical. Accept his or her instructions with all the humility. In your eyes, such instructions may sound foolish but in the long run, these instructions would prove to be beneficial.

If you hear his or her reproof, you would definitely get understanding of the problem faced by you later.

A grey-headed elder who walks in the truth is precious in the sight of God. You have to accept him and listen to his or her reproof. If you refuse instruction, you would despise your own soul.

Fear of the Lord

The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility (Proverbs 15:33).

"The fear of the Lord" is mentioned 12 times in Proverbs. They are - 1:7, 2:5, 8:13, 9:10, 10:27, 14:2, 14:27, 15:33, 19:23, 14:26, 15:16, 23:17.

We have the fear of the Lord not only when we read and meditate on His word but also when when get words of wisdom from the elders in the Body of Christ who walk in the truth.

We will definitely get honor from the people of this world when we learn to humble ourselves before God and men. Without humility, we will never get honor in this world. Arrogance prevents us from receiving the best blessings from the Lord and honor due from men. When someone says he or she knows everything and does not need the instruction of wisdom from other members of the Body of Christ, he or she does not have the fear of the Lord.

Next.....Chapter 16