Proverbs 10:20-22 – Speak Well and Work Well
The wisdom of keeping silent should always be connected with speaking well. We can use our tongue for good as well as evil, and it is sinful not just to say the wrong thing but to keep from saying the right one. We have the opportunity to encourage each other with our tongues, to speak of Christ, to share the Gospel, to pray with and for others to the King of kings – we have thousands of opportunities every day to do good with our tongues. What a blessing they can be to others – feeding them the things of God. But the foolish, wicked man will have none of this and in the end dies with nothing.
We have been told that the diligent man, the hard worker, will be blessed with wealth, here we see in verse 22 that it is the blessing of the Lord upon this hard work that brings wealth. Neither will be there without the other. The lazy man looks for wealth without work, the unbelieving man thinks that if he just works hard enough he will get his wealth, leaving God totally out of the picture, but the Christian understands that God blesses his faithful use of the tool of hard work. This keeps him busy, but also humbly dependent on God, knowing that unless what he has comes from God, it is worthless. The rich may receive their wealth as a blessing from the Lord, carefully using it in his service and for the good of others. The poor may enjoy the same blessing of God not in the form of wealth, but in contentment and the rich knowledge of a close relationship with the King, knowing that nothing can separate them from their God. God gives us nothing that can’t be seen as a blessing. Even sorrow can be seen to be for our good. Drink this promise in – the Lord will not give us trouble – everything will be for our good.
Questions
- How can we use our tongue for good?
- How has God blessed you?
Prayer Points
- Pray for the preaching and hearing of God’s Word tomorrow.
- Use prayer points from your congregation.
- Pray for family matters.