For The Proverbial Palate- 09.13.2008

 

He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly. A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones. Proverbs 14:29-30

At some time or another, most all of us have sat in the quietness of our heart and regretted something that we have said. And in some instances we have wrought such a grievous word, that we have had to go to an individual and say “I am sorry for what I have said”. For those readers who are saying, “not I”, you must agree that you could have, and probably should have.

The problem that immerses one in this regretful spirit is really two-fold.

The first is our heart and that the foundational problem. The prophet Jeremiah says in the word of God that the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked; who can know it?.” Jeremiah 17:9

Now the skeptic or unbeliever is going to say, “that is not true, the heart of an individual is basically good, and put into the proper environment, it will do quite well”. I think we shall find that Adam & Eve will discount this notion or thought. If you are one of the ones thinking such, it is only proof that what the word of God has spoken through His faithful prophet Jeremiah is true. Your heart has deceived you and you don’t even realize it.

The second aspect of the problem is that what is resident in ones heart generally makes it way out, and that, via the channel of ones mouth…

In the day that Jesus Christ walked this sod there were questions that arose by the religious leaders of the day concerning these ritual washings, and the disciples were lambasted for not washing their hands before they ate. This was Christ response to their reasoning….

“Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught? But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.” Matthew 15:17-20

From this truth we learn, that the environment or the character and content of ones heart is brought forth in the things that we say. The verse taken from the proverbs says that a sound heart brings forth a sweet smelling savor and that of Christ and His word when the heart has been cultivated such, but bitterness and envy is a rottenness to ones testimony. The heart will manifest itself!

We would all do well to consider the exhortation from the word of God by the spokesman of James…

“Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.” James 1:19-20

Peace as you seek to live for Him.

malachi

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