King James Bible Study – [And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. – Mark 8:34]
Date: Saturday, June 07, 2025
Chapters: Proverbs 13-15
Message: Proverbs: Be Careful of Your Words
Hello My Friend,
As we continue in the reading of Proverbs we learn that words are powerful, they can make or break not only the one who receives them, but the one who says them. Before words are even formed they come from the heart, [James 3:5-8 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. 7 For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: 8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.]
This reminds me of the saying, “Sticks and stones may brake my bones, but words will never hurt me.” I do not know who came up with that quote, but they are liars, physical wounds heal, but it almost takes a lifetime to heal from ones hurtful words, and if you ever do it comes from Christ, [Psalms 120:1-4 A Song of degrees. In my distress I cried unto the LORD, and he heard me. 2 Deliver my soul, O LORD, from lying lips, and from a deceitful tongue. 3 What shall be given unto thee? or what shall be done unto thee, thou false tongue? 4 Sharp arrows of the mighty, with coals of juniper.]
Now with that said, just as powerful as hurtful words are, encouraging words are even more powerful. Tell me that you do not walk with a pep in your step and work more effectively when you are encouraged with positive words? Children who were raised fearing God with both disciplinary and encouraging words are more likely to become prosperous adults. Solomon, knew the significance of using the right words.
[Proverbs 13:1-5 A wise son heareth his father’s instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke. 2 A man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth: but the soul of the transgressors shall eat violence. 3 He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction. 4 The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat. 5 A righteous man hateth lying: but a wicked man is loathsome, and cometh to shame.]
So, we can talk to our children about fearing God, but they are more likely to do so by our example, and this goes for any relationship. By our words we are justified or condemned and often by our words we pass those off to the ones we get around. Jesus, said it this way, [Matthew 12:35-37 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. 36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. 37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.]
We never had much money growing up, and at one point my mother had us on welfare for a while until we were old enough to get our own jobs. Since we never had much I never desired to be rich, in fact, I never have and still only want enough to take care of my family. There are some living their lives as though they are rich, selling what they have need of and spending that money on things they will never use in order to impress people. Then there are those who are wealthy living like they are poor, seeking handouts and taking everything they can get. We can go back to the wealthy man who would not part with his goods.
[Luke 12:18-21 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. 20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? 21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.]
Speaking of those who lay up treasures for themselves, sometimes when we are going through things we lose focus on the important things and start focusing on the material things that may help us overcome them rather than focus on Christ. We do ourselves as disservice by seeking material wealth rather than spiritual wealth.
[Proverbs 13:8-13 The ransom of a man’s life are his riches: but the poor heareth not rebuke. 9 The light of the righteous rejoiceth: but the lamp of the wicked shall be put out. 10 Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom. 11 Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase. 12 Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life. 13 Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.]
When our works start to exhaust us and we find ourselves in more trouble that is when we pray a little more, actually draw a little closer to Jesus. We literally see the hand of God, learn more of His mercies and grace, and come to grips more with the fact that we really are just sinners saved by grace, and just how long suffering and patient He is toward us as we struggle to find our way, []
When we start to lose hope of things changing that is when we start exhausting ourselves to the point that we make ourselves sick, both physically and spiritually. However, that hope we have in Christ truly is a fountain of life as He is the fountain of life.
[Proverbs 13:14-19 The law of the wise is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death. 15 Good understanding giveth favour: but the way of transgressors is hard. 16 Every prudent man dealeth with knowledge: but a fool layeth open his folly. 17 A wicked messenger falleth into mischief: but a faithful ambassador is health. 18 Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction: but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured. 19 The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul: but it is abomination to fools to depart from evil.]
Faithful saved sinners are literally ambassadors for Christ, who happens to not only be our Great Physician, He is also the one who gives us life beyond the grave, [2 Corinthians 5:20-21 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. 21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.]
Do you see that? Christ, who knew no sin was made to be sin for us. God did that so that we could be saved and reconciled with God forever through our faith in His sinless death, burial, and resurrection. Do you think that God is pleased by the foolish saved sinners? Of course, He rejoiced when they bowed down and received His Son as their Saviour, but He is not pleased with their behavior one bit, and evil will continue to follow them until they repent or God brings them home because they are an endangerment.
[Proverbs 13:21-25 Evil pursueth sinners: but to the righteous good shall be repayed. 22 A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children’s children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just. 23 Much food is in the tillage of the poor: but there is that is destroyed for want of judgment. 24 He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes. 25 The righteous eateth to the satisfying of his soul: but the belly of the wicked shall want.]
While we are all sinners, this goes beyond your average sin nature sin, this is pure evil upon those who willingly seek and live in the sins of the world. Do you see how much sin is flaunted right now? I do not care if you agree with same sex relations or marriage, it is just as grotesque as men and women flaunting themselves in all their pride. It does not matter the sin, those who willingly live in sin will suffer in their sin, and may even die in it if they remain living in it. While we all deal with some sort of sin, we cannot overcome it by ourselves, we need Jesus. Remember, He is our foundation so as long as we build everything upon Him, He will build us up, but if we try to do it on our own our walls will crumble.
[Proverbs 14:1-6 Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands. 2 He that walketh in his uprightness feareth the LORD: but he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him. 3 In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them. 4 Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox. 5 A faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness will utter lies. 6 A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not: but knowledge is easy unto him that understandeth.]
There is not one person who believes in God that does not get the opportunity to know who Jesus is and accept Him as their Saviour. I imagine that they are given several opportunities as He does not want one soul to end up in hell. Religion, does not save you, you can serve God all you want, but unless you know Christ as your Saviour, He does not know you.
[Luke 13:25-27 When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are: 26 Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. 27 But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.]
Talk about laboring in vain, if you are willing to put all your work into a religion that is leading you straight to hell, then you are a fool, and when you see Jesus He will not only show you all the chances you had to get saved, He will also deny you, and all that hard work would have been for nothing.
[Proverbs 14:10-15 The heart knoweth his own bitterness; and a stranger doth not intermeddle with his joy. 11 The house of the wicked shall be overthrown: but the tabernacle of the upright shall flourish. 12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. 13 Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; and the end of that mirth is heaviness. 14 The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man shall be satisfied from himself. 15 The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going.]
[Mirth; Social merriment; hilarity; high excitement of pleasurable feelings in company;] A person may hide fears of death and hell under a superficial mask of fulfilling every lust known to man, but in the end they will die in their sin. On the other hand, those who humble themselves will find that Christ will be their rest, [Matthew 11:28-29 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.]
[Prudent; Cautious; circumspect; practically wise; careful of the consequences of enterprises, measures or actions; cautious not to act when the end is of doubtful.] Being prudent keeps the faithful saved sinner from backsliding, and if we do, then we are quick to return to Him. As for the foolish saved sinner as well as the foolish who never get saved, their being prudent will lead to their own destruction.
[Proverbs 14:22-27 Do they not err that devise evil? but mercy and truth shall be to them that devise good. 23 In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury. 24 The crown of the wise is their riches: but the foolishness of fools is folly. 25 A true witness delivereth souls: but a deceitful witness speaketh lies. 26 In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge. 27 The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.]
Wow! There are some powerful words here, and in other words, talk is cheap, if we are going to say that we are trusting Christ as our Saviour, then our walk ought to prove that, [Galatians 5:21-25 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.]
Being obedient to God’s Word is not about keeping our salvation, that was paid for and given to us by grace through our faith in Christ, it is about not taking our precious gift for granted. Those who do may not end up in hell, but they will lead themselves to an untimely death.
[Proverbs 14:31-35 He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor. 32 The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death. 33 Wisdom resteth in the heart of him that hath understanding: but that which is in the midst of fools is made known. 34 Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people. 35 The king’s favour is toward a wise servant: but his wrath is against him that causeth shame.]
Oppressing the poor is not about passing up the one very capable of working standing in the middle of the intersections asking for handouts, it is about putting more burden on those who are already struggling such as the rich raising prices on gas, utilities, and food so that they can become richer. God, actually said this about the price off goods, [Leviticus 25:15-17 According to the number of years after the jubile thou shalt buy of thy neighbour, and according unto the number of years of the fruits he shall sell unto thee: 16 According to the multitude of years thou shalt increase the price thereof, and according to the fewness of years thou shalt diminish the price of it: for according to the number of the years of the fruits doth he sell unto thee. 17 Ye shall not therefore oppress one another; but thou shalt fear thy God: for I am the LORD your God.]
The one thing that both the faithful saved sinner and foolish saved sinner can agree on is that there is no fear of death. We never have to fear death because we are not dead, we are alive and when we shed this shell of a body that we carry around us, we will see Jesus. Praise God! [2 Corinthians 5:1-3 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: 3 If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.]
Being naked of the Saviour will send even the most righteous person on earth to hell because even at our best we still come short of the glory of God to save ourselves. The only way that we can get that through to them is by teaching them like Jesus would if He were here in the flesh.
[Proverbs 15:1-7 A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. 2 The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness. 3 The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good. 4 A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit. 5 A fool despiseth his father’s instruction: but he that regardeth reproof is prudent. 6 In the house of the righteous is much treasure: but in the revenues of the wicked is trouble. 7 The lips of the wise disperse knowledge: but the heart of the foolish doeth not so.]
There is a difference between a faithful saved sinner and a foolish one who does nothing or is ignorant their sin. The foolish do not seek to know the Word of God nor do they care to live in it, other than their getting saved. The faithful saved sinner seeks the Word of God and not only learns and follows it, even if it takes their lifetime to do it, and they rejoice in it.
[Proverbs 15:8-13,16 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight. 9 The way of the wicked is an abomination unto the LORD: but he loveth him that followeth after righteousness. 10 Correction is grievous unto him that forsaketh the way: and he that hateth reproof shall die. 11 Hell and destruction are before the LORD: how much more then the hearts of the children of men? 12 A scorner loveth not one that reproveth him: neither will he go unto the wise. 13 A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken. 16 Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith.]
Does this sound familiar? It sounds similar to something Peter said, [1 Peter 4:17-18 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? 18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?]
We may get chastened by God because He us our Father and truly does want to see us prosper, but the unsaved will have it much worse, they will literally die in their own destruction. The problem is that most people today are raised under this God hates everybody who sins mentality, which leads them to their own folly.
[Proverbs 15:21-26 Folly is joy to him that is destitute of wisdom: but a man of understanding walketh uprightly. 22 Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established. 23 A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it! 24 The way of life is above to the wise, that he may depart from hell beneath. 25 The LORD will destroy the house of the proud: but he will establish the border of the widow. 26 The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD: but the words of the pure are pleasant words.]
This goes back to the fact that words do hurt, sadly, it is much easier to convince a troubled young man that he is a girl inside than it is to convince him that he needs Jesus. There is another saying, “It takes a village to raise a child.” and in a way that is true for the Christian, we must teach them the truth that while God hates sin He sent His Son to save them from their sin, [1 Corinthians 6:9-11 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.]
These are words to live by, while parents or caregivers ought to be the ones showing them the right way, they do not always have that option. That is where God fearing guidance counselors, teachers, preachers, and employers come in. If they have succeeded in giving the right advice, then of course the words will be pleasant.
[Proverbs 15:29-33 The LORD is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous. 30 The light of the eyes rejoiceth the heart: and a good report maketh the bones fat. 31 The ear that heareth the reproof of life abideth among the wise. 32 He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding. 33 The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.]
Now, put that in perspective as a Christian child, no matter your age, and you will find that the same thing is true. You get a new Christian around a bunch of ungodly Christians and they will not see the need for Christ, but if you get them around some God fearing Christians they will flourish in the wealth of the Spirit, [Romans 8:26-28 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.]
Today’s Prayer: God, You have not given every saved born again sinner the power of fear, but the power of our faith. We are saved by Your grace through our faith in what Your Son, Jesus Christ has done to save our souls from eternal death. Thank You for giving us the opportunity to know the truth and accept Him once as for all as our Saviour. Although we fall, and although we backslide, we are Yours and nothing we ever do will take our salvation away. Lord, lead us and guide us, grow us and strengthen our faith, let us be bold in our faith and ready to give them an answer for the hope that inside of us. I ask these things in Your name Jesus. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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