“The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he who heeds counsel is wise.” Proverbs 12:15
Proverbs 12:15 is right at the beginning of a long series of proverbs dealing with speech and serves as an introduction, a warning to be ready to heed the proverbs that follow. Once again, the book of Proverbs directs our attention to seriously think about the words we use and the words we hear. This beginning is a warning against stubbornly and foolishly placing our trust in our own reason. We are to be humble, teachable, and correctable people who listen to counsel. We are to heed the Biblical counsel of those godly saints the Lord has put in our lives to help us mature in Christ and more particularly we are to be ready to obey the counsel that follows in Proverbs 12:16-23.
This echoes the famous Proverb back in chapter 3:5 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” Be warned, our reason, our own wisdom might get in the way of obeying these proverbs when the rubber meets the road. We’ll just take a look at two; Proverbs 12:16 and 12:18.
Proverbs 12:16 says, “A fool’s wrath is known at once, but a prudent man covers shame.” The Hebrew words translated “covers shame” are more clearly rendered “ignores an insult.” The picture here is when one is insulted, the fool reacts immediately with vexation, anger, and retaliation. The wise person exercises self-control and covers or ignores the insult. Jesus says the same thing on the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5:39, “But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.” Proverbs 12:16 calls us to manifest the character of Jesus Christ by turning the other cheek. When combined with Proverbs 12:18 the picture becomes even clearer.
Proverbs 12:18 says, “There is one who speaks like the piercing of a sword, but the tongue of the wise promotes health.” Words have power. Words can be tools for destruction and death or for building and healing. Jesus also teaches this truth on the Sermon on the Mount when He indicates that with our angry, hateful words we can be guilty of the 6th commandment, thou shalt not murder. In Proverbs 12:18 the words are rashly spoken, a quick reaction to an insult like in Proverbs 12:16. Later in Matthew 12:36-37 Jesus warns, “I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” Jesus takes our words seriously and so should we.
This is strong motivation for us to take the time to think about our words and intentionally seek to maintain godly speech. But this does not involve only avoiding hurting others with our speech. The second part of Proverbs 12:18 says that our words can be a healing power. All throughout the NT we are encouraged to use our words, our speech, for the edification of our brethren and the building up of the church. For example, Ephesians 4:29 says, “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.
So, our message today in a nutshell: Don’t be a fool who immediately reacts in anger when insulted and uses his words as a sword to kill. Be wise, be prudent, and heed the counsel of the Lord. Have the self-control to ignore foolish words and use the power of your speech to heal and build the body of Christ.
His mercy endures forever!
Pastor Flynn