Proverbs 26

Verses 1, 8 and 11 were highlighted in my old Bible. God really was trying to warn me against being a fool. As a dog returns to its vomit… wow, what a disgusting visual that shows us how stupid it is to repeat your mistakes. As I think back I can now easily see that God was trying to steer me clear of certain people. I can see how he was trying to tell me not to make the same mistakes over and over. I wish I would have understood then.
Also highlighted were verses 17-20, all about the tongue, which is suiting given what the message was at church this morning. I remember a time when whenever anyone hurt someone’s feelings or someone got mad at what someone else said, we would all say ‘I was just kidding’. The Bible actually says not to do that. We need to think before we speak. Gossip and meddling are deemed foolish here too, as foolish as grabbing a dog’s ears. I think that is such a funny visual, but it’s so true. How many of us would walk up to a dog and pull on its ears? I would say not many of us, and yet we are so quick to get involved in affairs that are not our own and/or speak or listen to gossip, which is just as foolish.
Verses 23-26 really touched me today. I highlighted 23 and 25 many years ago. Even though I highlighted them in my Bible I didn’t have any way of being accountable for them just a few years later. These verses are so close to my heart because they remind me of why I love to serve in youth ministry. I am reminded of how easy it is, especially at a young age, to believe someone with charming speech. There have been many women over the years who I have loved dearly as friends that I have watched begin to love “a malicious man who disguises himself with his lips.” I myself have been fooled by such men. The reason I love to work with youth is because you can teach young girls to recognize signs of a deceiver. I’m sure I’ve said it before, but one of the reasons I love our church is because they stress love being an action. To all my single ladies out there, remember that a man’s character is reflected by his actions not his words. Proverbs warns against the charming ones who can disguise themselves with their lips.
That reminds me of how much I love my husband and his desire for wisdom. I thank Jesus every day that He gave me a man of integrity whose words I never have to question because his actions are always in line with the things he says. He shows me he loves me, he doesn’t just say it! What a blessing it is to be married and confident that I am not being fooled by a charming man whose malice is concealed by deception. There but for the grace of God, dear sisters, is it so.