Proverbs in 365 Devotions
For more go to braggingonjesus.com
Proverbs 6:1 My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor, have given your pledge for a stranger,
Man's Mouth
Mans mouth has always been a big problem for him. The reason of course is because it shines out reflections of our heart which is bent towards sin.
Jesus said beginning in Matthew 15:18 But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. 19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. 20 These are what defile a person…
As we will see here in the first part of Proverbs 6, Solomon is talking much about our words. In verse 1 he talks about putting security up for our neighbor and giving a pledge for a stranger. We can do both of these things with the words of our mouth.
Think about the people you choose to fellowship with… those who you admire and are drawn to… like the text says… they might be our neighbor or they could be a stranger who you recently met…
A way one might put up security or give a pledge for them is by giving your word as in stating your position to them. “Yes I support you in this lifestyle”… “of course you have to be who you feel you are” or… though you only hear one biased side you say “Divorce is definitely the right thing to do”… You don’t want to offend a friend or stranger or even one of your children so you say… “I understand your reasons for wanting an abortion at this time in your life… I agree… I just want what’s best for you”… Maybe you’ve met a stranger or really come to connect on a different level with a co-worker of the opposite sex… And you have been discussing your own marriage with them… even saying you think you are falling out of love with them. Then you ask them out on a date…
All these things are how our words act as security and pledges to our neighbors and others. In the verses which follow that we’ll look at next time Solomon tells us what to do… Let me give you a hint: Turn and run! Run to Jesus and yes, run back to those to whom you misrepresented Gods truth and make things right.
