“The lips of the righteous know what finds favor, but the mouth of the wicked only what is perverse.”
Most of the verses in this chapter contain the conjunction “but,” which we all know sets up a contrast. This verse does exactly that, contrasting the righteous and the wicked. Much of Proverbs compares these two types of people. The choice is always stark and clear. There is not one admirable quality in the wicked. Even their best acts come from a place of deception and lead to ultimate destruction. Conversely, the righteous are not perfect, but their hearts are governed by the Spirit of God, which ultimately brings about a Kingdom result. This will be reflected in their words. This particular verse also touches on another one of Solomon’s favorite topics. In his view, there are few areas where the difference between God’s faithful followers and the world is as evident as in their speech—what they say. James, the brother of Jesus, goes into great detail about the power of the tongue to either destroy or build up. Today, use your words to reflect His heart and bring life. #BeTheEdge
“We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.” James 3:2 NIV
