Foolish Words
Eccl 10:12-15
12. Words from a wise man's mouth are gracious, but a fool is consumed by his own lips.
13 . At the beginning his words are folly; at the end they are wicked madness-- 14 and the fool multiplies words. No one knows what is coming-- who can tell him what will happen after him?
15. A fool's work wearies him; he does not know the way to town.
Were you fooled this weekend on April Fools Day? My granddaughter was given the offer of a Brownie. To her dismay she was given brown construction paper cut into the form of the letter E. Many Aprils Fools joke may not be so tame. Many suffer for real, not just with practical joke, but saying and doing things we regret without giving thought.
Last week, in the first part of Ecclesiastes 10, we looked at Foolish Ways. The choices we make can be wise or foolish when we neglect to make decisions based on the word and wisdom from God. Impulsive actions can result in things we may regret later. Looking for pride, power, or prestige is valued in our world, but foolish when we find them all fleeting and fluff. That s not the way of the Lord. Carelessness is experienced by all. Solomon shows how carelessness is foolish when we don’t take regard to what we are doing or how our actions affect ourselves and others by inattentiveness.
This week we will look at foolish words. How foolish it is when we have unguarded tongues. How often do we wish we could take back what was said? James tells us that “no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness.” James 3:8-9.
Foolish words can be more than what comes through our lips. Increasingly, communication is done by email, twitter, Facebook, Messenger video sharing, texting and the such. Many people are devastated by words they read from one another in various forms.
Years ago, poet Anna Dryer wrote,
"Twas only a word, a careless word, but it smote the heart of one that heard.
Like a fierce relentless blow;
The day seemed overcast with gloom. The sweetest songs seemed out of tune;
the fires of hope burned low.
'Twas only a word, a loving word, but a weary, sorrowing heart was stirred.
And life took brighter hue;
and faith triumphant, pruned her wing.
Discouraged souls began to sin and the hope revived anew.
Only a word, yet what power it holds to better or to mar the lives of those who hear.
What power for good -for evil too!
Oh may our words be good and true and spoken in God's fear."
This week (and more) make it your prayer like King David in Ps. 19:14 wrote “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.”
