Journal Proverbs 6 (all references are from the ESV; changes in punctuation are mine)
Scripture: “My son: If you have put up security for your neighbor, have given your pledge for a stranger, if you are snared in the words of your mouth, caught in the words of your mouth,
then do this, my son, and save yourself—for you have come into the hand of your neighbor:
Go, hasten, and plead urgently with your neighbor. Give your eyes no sleep and your eyelids no slumber; save yourself like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the hand of the fowler.” Prov 6:1-5
Observation: Work quicker. Be aware of what I have done, conclude about what needs to be done, and work quicker. Oh, how I hang my head looking into the mirror of the Word.
Analysis: First, don’t be unequally yoked is the first thought that comes to me. However, agreements and such in business cannot be avoided to believers only.
I don’t think that is the only point.
Look at the statement “…if you are snared in the words of your mouth, caught in the words of your mouth…” I know what this indicates and it is the taste of shoe, my “foot in my mouth.”
While this is probably talking about business, being snared by my own words happens everywhere, at any time, and with anyone.
When I come to my senses, I usually slap my forehead and groan, “what did I just say?” Snared.
The takeaways shown are:
- Do something right now.
- Go, hasten (be in a hurry, have some urgency).
- Don’t put off for tomorrow (no sleep, no slumber)—
- Make it as right as you can (save yourself).
This really has application when I sin with my mouth towards somebody—say for instance, my wife.
Do I think that James might have had this in mind when he wrote about the tongue, roaring flames, devouring, and all that? I wouldn’t put that past the Holy Spirit to inspire.
While I am openly confessing that I have many issues and examples of foot in mouth disease (even recently, it would be best not to be in the situation in the first place.
Discernment, discretion. A mouth closed can equate to wisdom: “It is better to remain silent at the risk of being thought a fool, than to talk and remove all doubt of it.” (attributed to Abraham Lincoln)
Prayer: Lord God. I am so familiar with being snared by the words of my mouth. I have made bad commitments, bad deals, too many snap decisions—nodding my head before thinking. Thank you for allowing and helping me park my pride at the foot of the cross and embrace humility. AMEN