“Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof” (Proverbs 18:21).
TEXT — Proverbs 18:13-24
Message
Earnest students of the Old Testament book of Proverbs have not failed to observe the picturesque language that comes with its presentations of counsel drawn from inspiration. Yet there is a more striking element: its transcendent wisdom. A large body of the sayings, credited to King Solomon the son of David, dishes out the foremost teaching that the “Fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom”.
In the excerpts under review, there is a delightsome bouquet of these gems of wisdom. There are issues of adjudication which demand that we must not decide on a dispute before knowing the facts. We also learn that we must not allow depression in our spirit, as this can result in complete disorientation. The son of David advises us to ensure we do not lose fellowship with the brethren as it would be hard to regain them.
In addition, we have a word on death and life. According to Solomon, “death and life are in the power of the tongue”. Therefore, we are admonished to ask God’s power to tame the tongue and prevent it from utterances that spark wars, contention, and blasphemy. There is a revelation about God’s mind on marriage. “Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favor of the LORD”.
A world alienated from the knowledge of heaven and increasingly tethered to its dysfunctional philosophy and science cannot but be the victim of deceptive doctrines devoid of joy and satisfaction. The void can be filled if a man goes back to the recipe proffered by Solomon: “Wisdom (given by God) is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom…” (Proverbs 4:7).
Thought for the day
True wisdom is found in the knowledge and fear of God.
Listed among “500 most powerful people on the planet” by the Foreign Policy magazine in 2013, Pastor (Dr.) William F. Kumuyi is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry (DCLM) headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria. DCLM started in 1973 as a 15-member Bible study group right in Kumuyi’s apartment at University of Lagos where he was a lecturer. His revolutionary Bible teaching on personal holiness and commitment to evangelism soon gained so much traction and resulted in a widespread revival.
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