Leviticus 19:32

Leviticus 19:32 KJV  Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head, and honour the face of the old man, and fear thy God: I am the LORD.

Leviticus 19:32 MKJV  You shall rise up before the gray head and honor the face of the old man, and fear your God. I am Jehovah.

Leviticus 19:32 ERV  "Show honor to old people. Stand up when they come into the room. And show respect to your leaders. I am the LORD.

Leviticus 19:32 LITV  You shall rise up in the face of gray hair; and you shall honor the face of an old man; and be afraid of your God. I am Jehovah.

Other scripture:
Genesis 48:10-12 ESV  Now the eyes of Israel were dim with age, so that he could not see. So Joseph brought them near him, and he kissed them and embraced them.  11  And Israel said to Joseph, “I never expected to see your face; and behold, God has let me see your offspring also.”  12  Then Joseph removed them from his knees, and he bowed himself with his face to the earth.

Exodus 20:12 BBE  Give honour to your father and to your mother, so that your life may be long in the land which the Lord your God is giving you.

Proverbs 16:31 MKJV  The gray head is a crown of glory, if it is found in the way of righteousness.

Proverbs 20:29 MKJV  The glory of young men is their strength; and the beauty of old men is the gray head.

1 Timothy 5:1-2 MKJV  Do not sharply rebuke an elder, but exhort as a father, and the younger ones as brothers,  2  older women as mothers, the younger as sisters in all purity.

1 Timothy 5:17 ESV  Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.

Isaiah 3:5 BBE  And the people will be crushed, every one by his neighbour; the young will be full of pride against the old, and those of low position will be lifted up against the noble. 

"And this respect to ancient persons is due to them from younger persons, because of their having been in the world before them, and of their long continuance in it, and because of the favour and honour God has bestowed upon them in granting them long life, as also because of the experience, knowledge, and wisdom, they may be supposed to have attained unto" - John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

"Romans 13:7 makes this clear. 'Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.' So we find it actually commanded to give deference, not based on whether we think they deserve it, but simply because they are somebody who fits a certain description (like the elderly) or who is an elected, appointed, or ordained person. So strong is this theme that God shows that insolence toward those who should be respected presages calamity(cf. II Kings 2:23-25 and Isaiah 3:5). We should thus be warned that when we see disrespect rising, severe social troubles are on the horizon. The purpose of these scriptures is to help ensure that there is a proper attitude toward God. God is the Giver of all authority (Romans 13:1), and it is really out of respect for the God-given office that the deference is shown." - Forerunner Commentary

"The fall of the Northern Israel began when Rehoboam rejected the counsel of the old men and acted upon that of the 'young Turks' in his kingdom." - James Burton Coffman Commentaries

"...it is a natural law in the hearts of all to reverence and honor old men. Many old men, indeed, either by their levity, or lewdness, or sloth, subvert their own dignity; yet, although gray hairs may not always be accompanied by courteous wisdom, still, in itself, age is venerable, according to God’s command." - John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible

What does this mean to us today? Unfortunately we are seeing an increase in elder abuse as the Baby Boomers are aging and left to the care of the following generations. We are seeing abuse, theft, sexual abuse in nursing homes by staff who think they can get away with it. If the elder is able to say anything, they are threatened. If they are unable to speak, they are subject to more abuse. Nursing home staff force feeding, or not feeding their patients. Incontinent patients left without change. Baths not given. Medicines not given or given too much so they are heavily sedated and less trouble.

During the pandemic, family members have not been allowed to visit and stay with their loved ones so the care is worse, especially as staff are out with COVID themselves and there is not enough staff. There is no one to be the patient's advocate because no one is allowed in to see them.

Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo has recently resigned under sexual harassment charges. But his policies that directly lead to the deaths of thousands in NY nursing homes during the COVID pandemic should be considered his worst offense. Face it, the care of the elderly in these nursing homes is expensive drain on money. NY was in severe money crisis before the pandemic because of the Democratic leadership, their corruption and their giveaways. What is one way to help slow down the torrent of expenses? Kill off the old people who are useless to society now and who are just a financial drain. The pandemic gave him a perfect cover he thought. He thought he could get away with it. The most vulnerable in society (besides babies), locked in nursing homes without any family supervision or advocacy. Every avenue of accountability was cut off to the patients and their families. They couldn't move them and they couldn't sue them. Cuomo, and his staff, have the deaths of these innocent elderly people on his hands. He might as well have taken a vial of COVID and injected it into each elderly person and walked away to let them die. He effectively let 172,000 old people die because they cost the state too much and were easy targets. I don't know if he consciously made that determination or if he's so inept and it was the results of his stupid decisions. He had access to better information, he surely had to know that putting COVID patients in nursing homes would bring the virus right to the most vulnerable people. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure it out but he was counseled and pressured by hospitals and healthcare conglomerates who also see the elderly as a train on their money and resources. So I have to think he wasn't just stupid but deliberately and calculatingly making decisions that he thought would benefit his political career and could easily be covered up. That makes him fully culpable in my humble opinion.

The following information comes from these two stories:
NYTimes.com, What We Know About Cuomo’s Nursing Home Scandal By Michael Gold and Ed Shanahan, Aug. 4, 2021

Statnews.com, Andrew Cuomo’s Covid-19 nursing home fiasco shows the ethical perils of pandemic policymaking, By Rachel Cohrs, Feb. 26, 2021

More than 172,000 residents and employees of nursing homes and long-term care facilities have died of complications from Covid-19 in the United States, according to a Times analysis. His policy issued in March 2020 ordered nursing homes to take back residents who had been discharged from hospitals after being treated for Covid-19. The goal was to keep virus patients from overwhelming hospitals he said. New York City hospitals were overwhelmed, and New York’s influential hospital lobby was pleading with Cuomo to issue policy on transfers to nursing homes. Greater New York Hospital Association spokesperson Brian Conway said hospitals made the request because Cuomo had ordered hospitals to immediately increase bed capacity by at least 50%. Cuomo’s decision to require nursing homes to accept Covid-19-positive patients when New York’s hospitals were overflowing caused the crisis. Richard Mollot, executive director of the New York-based Long Term Care Community Coalition. “I think it was an utter lack of regard for nursing home residents.” Data obtained by the Associated Press showed more than 9,000 recovering Covid-19 patients were transferred from nursing homes to hospitals, which was 40% higher than the previously disclosed number. Then came his attempts to cover it up. The Health Department data put the number of fatalities about 50 percent higher than the figure the Cuomo administration was citing publicly at the time. The Times subsequently reported on the more sustained effort to hide the death toll among nursing home residents. That effort included the burying of a scientific paper that incorporated the death data, the delayed release of a top Cuomo aide’s audit of the figures, and a failure to send two letters drafted by the Health Department that were meant for state legislators. As politicians, health experts and federal investigators called for complete figures for the deaths of nursing home residents, the Cuomo administration continued to delay the data’s release, saying more time was need to compile and verify it. On a private conference call in February, Melissa DeRosa, a top aide to Mr. Cuomo, told Democratic lawmakers that the state had withheld the data because it feared an investigation by the Trump administration. But according to documents and interviews, Ms. DeRosa herself was involved in rewriting the Health Department report months before the Justice Department began seeking information about the administration’s nursing home policy. Cuomo’s team proceeded with his 3/20 directive despite early evidence that nursing home residents were especially vulnerable to Covid-19. The first known cluster of Covid-19 cases in the U.S. happened in a Washington nursing home. The governor, days later, put a provision in the state budget that curbed patients’ ability to sue nursing homes and hospitals. Both hospitals and nursing homes had advocated for it. The Cuomo administration even trotted out “independent reviewers” to bolster the report. Three of the four were hospital executives and a hospital lobbyist who advocated for the policy. “What appears to have come out is that the Cuomo administration made a politically expedient decision,” Pelissero said. “In doing so, for what appears to be political reasons, they failed to serve the public interest.”

Wonder what will happen when Andrew Cuomo is, himself, an elderly man with no one to advocate for him and his care. When it may be him in a nursing home with no family coming to see him or nobody to oversee his care? Will he think his life is worth saving when he's elderly and no longer a "use to society"?


What about families who warehouse and forget their elderly family member? Maybe they think since Grandma doesn't recognize them any more it's not necessary to visit them. They may even find it very hard emotionally to deal with Grandpa and facing his old age and mental/physical disabilities. So they avoid going to see them and leave them to the staff of the nursing homes. You must remember this... one day that may be you in the wheelchair or the bed. How would you want your family to treat you? It's not about you. You are younger and more in control of your life. It's about this vulnerable loved one who no longer has any control over their life and who may be depressed, lonely, scared, and, in some cases, abused. They need their family now more than ever to watch over them. You need to make appearances so that the staff knows the patient has family that cares and watches over them. You need to check on them regularly to make sure the staff is doing what they are supposed to be doing. You need to be their advocate and you can't do that if you never go see them and don't know what's going on. You may send them gifts but staff is stealing them. You may send them cards but the staff doesn't deliver them. It's too much trouble. You need to be there in person on a regular basis to encourage them, tell them you love them and show them you care. If for no other reason than to let the staff and other patients know that you have an eye out and are watching. There is good staff and there are bad staff. For the wages these nursing homes pay, you are often left with high staff turnover and people who take the jobs for reasons other than money. I.e. they think it's a good way to steal or sexually abuse or bully patients without getting caught. It's a hunting ground for them. Good, dependable, kind and professional staff should be paid well and appreciated because the alternative is awful.

What about adult children who still live at home and take advantage of their elderly parents? Isn't that another form of elder abuse? They eat Mom and Dad's food, stay in Mom and Dad's house, let Mom and Dad pay their bills but they run the household! You send Mom out to buy your cigarettes. You make Dad pay your car payments but you have sole rights to the car. You threaten to leave them with nobody to take care of them if they don't let you do what you want to do. You don't even attempt to follow any rules of the house. Your Mother is virtually your slave to do as she is told. She has to make the meals you want, clean your room and bathroom, wash your clothes, etc. This is elder abuse and bullying. You are young, strong, capable but you've used your intelligence and strength against your parents and have made them your slaves. You are manipulative and selfish. If you work a job you use the money on yourself. You don't save for a place of your own or pay them rent, you use your money on your own selfish desires so that you don't have the money to get a place of your own.

Just because an adult child still lives at home, doesn't mean they are abusive to their parents. They may be paying rent and it helps their parents financially. They may be doing household chores and following house rules and looking after their parents. They may be a body guard, caregiver, helper, etc. So I don't mean to lump all adult children into one category. Personally I know of a grown son who still lives at home and he does pay rent, buys groceries, pays his own bills, helps out his parents when needed, who is there as a body guard and shows his parents respect. That's a show of honor and respect like the Bible says!

What about these con men who take advantage of the elderly. These telemarketers, pyramid schemers, catfishing men/women who prey on the elderly to take as much money from them as they can. They take advantage of an elderly person's loneliness, confusion, dementia, fears, insecurities and they extract money from them. We've all heard stories about how these criminals will take their whole retirement and life savings leaving these elderly people destitute.

What about young people who laugh and make fun of older people? They ridicule, mock and scorn the elderly. Young person, one day that may be you. If you live long enough you will go bald, or get fat, or have wrinkles, or have the walking farts, or lose your teeth. What goes around, comes around. If you laugh at someone today, you may look a hundred times worse one day and it will be other young people mocking you and hurting your feelings. If you don't want that, you'd better show some respect now.

What about young men who deliberately attack old people because they are easy targets? They know when the social security checks come in and they deliberately extort and steal from their grannies, their grandpas, the old man down the street, the old woman going to the grocery store. This type of preying is the lowest of the low. When you prey on people who have no defense against you, you are as low as they come. Again, if you live long enough, you will be that vulnerable elderly person that someone preys upon. Because you did it, you know how bad it can be. But it will be worse for you because you did it. So be afraid, very afraid. God sees what you do even if no CCTV picks it up and no one reports it. God will repay.

What about young people who mouth off, roll their eyes, call their elders names, talk disrespectfully about their elders, refuse to be obedient and show no respect? The Bible very clearly tells us we are to HONOR our FATHERS and MOTHERS. This means respect, listening to your parents in respect, answering your parents with respect, treating your parents with love and respect, being obedient to your parents (unless they are asking you to do something ungodly, then you respect God first and obey God), caring for your parents with respect, protecting them with respect. If you live long enough, you will age and you will have children. How do you want your children to treat you? Do you want them to behave like you behave to your parents? Do you want your children making fun of you, calling you names, not listening to anything you say, rolling their eyes when they try to speak, being disobedient and disrespectful? Remember, what you do to your parents, your children may do to you and even worse. It's best to start investing today for your future. So invest your love, respect and obedience in your relationship with your parents and see if it doesn't come back to when you grow old.

To adult children of aging parents, remember your children are watching how you treat your parents and will often mirror that treatment when it comes to you and your care. If you are disrespectful to your parents, your children are watching and will learn to disrespect you. If you are cold hearted and detached from your parents, don't be surprised when your children do the same to you. If you leave your parents in a nursing home and never go see them or care about them. Don't be surprised when it's your turn and your children do that to you and leave you lonely in a nursing home.

Matthew 7:12 (Jesus speaking) "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you!"

For those who may have seen themselves in some of these cases of blatant disrespect and elder abuse, you can repent. If you have read this and see yourself and feel bad about what you've done, turn to Jesus. He still loves you and He will forgive you. Turn to Him and turn away from the sin. If you are saved, you are forgiven and He has sent the Holy Spirit to live within you to help you not repeat your sinful ways. He also has provided the Bible so by studying it you get to know God and His ways and it also helps you resist sin. Whenever you realize you've sinned, just ask Jesus' forgiveness and try harder. You will be forgiven. If you have accepted Jesus and are repentant, He has forgiven you so now go make amends. Show your new heart by apologizing to those elders you've hurt. Return anything you've taken. Begin to visit them in the nursing home. Begin to be their help, their protector, their caregiver, their provider, and show them respect (even if they don't remember who you are any more). If you no longer have family, look for other elders whom you could help. Walk that old woman to the grocery store every week or month. Deliver food and a good book to a shut in. Pick up someone and take them to the doctor or on some errands. Mow the grass for your elderly neighbor who can't do it themselves and can't afford to pay for it to be done. Take the mail from the mailbox and take it to your neighbor's door and check in on them at the same time. Do so with a good attitude. Be helpful. Be respectful. Be dependable. Be honest and don't take advantage of them.

Leviticus 19:14-18

 Leviticus 19:14-18 MKJV  You shall not curse the deaf, nor put a stumbling-block before the blind, but shall fear your God. I am Jehovah.  15  You shall do no unrighteousness in judgment. You shall not respect the person of the poor, nor honor the person of the mighty; but you shall judge your neighbor in righteousness.  16  You shall not go as a slanderer among your people; you shall not stand against the blood of your neighbor. I am Jehovah.  17  You shall not hate your brother in your heart. You shall always rebuke your neighbor, and not allow sin on him.  18  You shall not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people; but you shall love your neighbor as yourself. I am Jehovah.

Proverbs 18:5 ERV  You must be fair in judging others. It is wrong to favor the guilty and rob the innocent of justice.

James 2:5-9 ERV  Listen, my dear brothers and sisters. God chose the poor people in the world to be rich in faith. He chose them to receive the kingdom God promised to those who love him.  6  But you show no respect to those who are poor. And you know that the rich are the ones who always try to control your lives. And they are the ones who take you to court.  7  And the rich are the ones who insult the wonderful name of Christ, the name by which you are known.  8  One law rules over all other laws. This royal law is found in the Scriptures: "Love your neighbor the same as you love yourself." If you obey this law, you are doing right.  9  But if you are treating one person as more important than another, you are sinning. You are guilty of breaking God's law.

Micah 7:2-4 ERV  By this I mean that all the faithful people are gone. There are no good people left. Everyone is planning to kill someone. Everyone is trying to trap their brother.  3  People are good at doing bad things with both hands. Officials ask for bribes. Judges take money to change their decisions in court. "Important leaders" do whatever they want to do.  4  Even the best of them is as crooked as a tangled thornbush. Your prophets said this day would come, and the day of your watchmen has come. Now you will be punished. Now you will be confused!

Amos 5:10-15 ERV  You hate those prophets, who go to public places and speak against evil, even though they teach good, simple truths.  11  You take unfair taxes from the poor. You take loads of wheat from them. You build fancy houses with cut stone, but you will not live in them. You plant beautiful vineyards, but you will not drink the wine from them.  12  This is because I know about your many sins. You have done some very bad things: You hurt people who do right, you accept money to do wrong, and you keep the poor from receiving justice in court.  13  At that time wise teachers will be quiet, because it is a bad time.  14  You say that God is with you, so you should do good things, not evil. Then you will live, and the LORD God All-Powerful will be with you.  15  Hate evil and love goodness. Bring justice back into the courts. Maybe then the LORD God All-Powerful will be kind to the survivors from Joseph's family.

Deuteronomy 1:12-17 ERV  But I cannot take care of you and solve all your arguments by myself.  13  So choose some men from each tribe, and I will make them leaders over you. Choose wise men with experience who understand people.'  14  "And you said, 'That is a good thing to do.'  15  "So I took the wise, experienced men you chose from your tribes, and I made them your leaders. In this way I gave you leaders over 1000 people, over 100 people, over 50 people, and over 10 people. I also gave you officers for each of your tribes.  16  "At that time I told these judges, 'Listen to the arguments between your people. Be fair when you judge each case. It doesn't matter if the problem is between two Israelites or between an Israelite and a foreigner. You must judge each case fairly.  17  You must treat everyone the same when you judge. You must listen carefully to everyone—whether they are important or not. Don't be afraid of anyone, because your decision is from God. But if there is a case too hard for you to judge, bring it to me and I will judge it.'

Exodus 23:3 ERV  "In court, don't treat a person in a special way simply because that person is poor.

Exodus 23:6-8 ERV  "In court, don't let anyone take advantage of a person simply because that person is poor.  7  "Be very careful if you say that someone is guilty of something. Don't make false charges against a person. Never allow innocent people to be killed as punishment for something they did not do. Whoever kills an innocent person is evil, and I will not treat a guilty person as innocent.  8  "If someone tries to pay you to agree with them when they are wrong, don't accept that payment. A payment like that can blind judges so that they cannot see the truth. It can make good people tell lies.

"Justice must never be perverted, either, 1. In pity to the poor: Thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, Exodus 23:3. Whatever may be given to a poor man as an alms, yet let nothing be awarded him as his right but what he is legally entitled to, nor let his poverty excuse him from any just punishment for a fault. Or, 2. In veneration or fear of the mighty, in whose favour judges would be most frequently biased. The Jews say, 'Judges were obliged by this law to be so impartial as not to let one of the contending parties sit while the other stood, nor permit one to say what he pleased and bid the other be short'" - Matthew Henry Commentary

This verse instructs us to be very careful about giving justice. We are not to feel sorry for the poor and thus rule in their favor wrongly. Neither are we to  wrongly rule in favor of the rich. Every person and situation must be based on truth and justice, NOT their social or financial status. Judges are NOT to take bribes whether it be of money or goods or fame or social honor. They are to strive to be objective in all cases. They are not to cave into outside pressure of any kind to pervert justice.

"Judges in local, state and federal courts across the country routinely hide their connections to litigants and their lawyers. These links can be social – they may have been law school classmates or share common friends – political, financial or ideological. In some instances the two may have mutual investment interests. They might be in-laws. Occasionally they are literally in bed together. While it’s unavoidable that such relationships will occur, when they do create a perception of bias, a judge is duty-bound to at the very least disclose that information, and if it is creates an actual bias, allow a different judge to take over.

"All too often, however, the conflicted jurist says nothing and proceeds to rule in favor of the connected party, while the loser goes off without realizing an undisclosed bias doomed her case.

“'Everybody should have the right to ensure the judge sitting on their case doesn’t have a conflict,' said Mary McQueen, executive director of the National Council on State Courts. 'It’s absolutely imperative that people have full faith and confidence in the judicial process.'

"But court critics say that one reason judicial violations are common is because they frequently go unpunished. When litigants ask a judge to back away because of a conflict, they risk being told no, then face possible retaliation, so many don’t bother. If a litigant or an attorney files a complaint with an oversight body, there’s only about a 10% chance that state court authorities will properly investigate the allegation" - US justice system, Corrupt justice: what happens when judges' bias taints a case?, By Peter S. Green and John Mazor, 18 Oct 2015, TheGuardian.com

"In Pennsylvania, the state examined the convictions of more than 3,500 teenagers sentenced by two judges. The judges were convicted of taking kickbacks as part of a scheme to fill a private juvenile detention center. In 2009, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court appointed senior judge Arthur Grim to lead a victim review, and the state later expunged criminal records for 2,251 juveniles. Grim told Reuters that every state should adopt a way to compensate victims of judicial misconduct." - Thousands of U.S. judges who broke laws or oaths remained on the bench, By Michael Berens and John Shiffman in Montgomery, Alabama, June 30, 2020, Reuters.com

Leviticus 19:16 Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer.
"talebearer" - ra^ki^yl - H7400
Strong's Hebrew and Greek Dictionary
From H7402; a scandal monger (as travelling about): - slander, carry tales, talebearer.
H7402 - ra^kal - A primitive root; to travel for trading: - (spice) merchant.
Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Dictionary
1) to go about (meaning dubious)
1a) (Qal) trafficker, trader (participle) (substantive)
Part of Speech: verb

"The word used signifies a merchant, and particularly one that deals in drugs and spices, and especially a peddler in those things, that goes about from place to place to sell them; and such having an opportunity and making use of it to carry stories of others, and report them to their disadvantage, hence it came to be used for one that carries tales from house to house, in order to curry favour for himself, and to the injury of others; and such a man is a detestable person, and ought not to be encouraged, see 1Timothy 5:13," - John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

1 Timothy 5:13 MKJV  And with it all they also learn to be idle, going around the houses; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things they ought not.

Proverbs 20:19 MKJV  A gossip is a revealer of secrets; so do not mix with him who flatters with his lips.

Proverbs 26:20-28 CEV  Where there is no fuel a fire goes out; where there is no gossip arguments come to an end.  21  Troublemakers start trouble, just as sparks and fuel start a fire.  22  There is nothing so delicious as the taste of gossip! It melts in your mouth.  23  Hiding hateful thoughts behind smooth talk is like coating a clay pot with a cheap glaze.  24  The pleasant talk of an enemy hides more evil plans  25  than can be counted— so don't believe a word!  26  Everyone will see through those evil plans.  27  If you dig a pit, you will fall in; if you start a stone rolling, it will roll back on you.  28  Watch out for anyone who tells lies and flatters— they are out to get you.

James 3:5-10 ERV  It is the same with our tongue. It is a small part of the body, but it can boast about doing great things. A big forest fire can be started with only a little flame.  6  The tongue is like a fire. It is a world of evil among the parts of our body. It spreads its evil through our whole body and starts a fire that influences all of life. It gets this fire from hell.  7  Humans have control over every kind of wild animal, bird, reptile, and fish, and they have controlled all these things.  8  But no one can control the tongue. It is wild and evil, full of deadly poison.  9  We use our tongues to praise our Lord and Father, but then we curse people who were created in God's likeness.  10  These praises and curses come from the same mouth. My brothers and sisters, this should not happen.

I have to think of not only our own gossiping which is bad enough. But look at all the gossip shows on TV. Gossip about actors and actresses, gossip about sport figures, gossip about Youtubers, gossip about political figures, gossip about musician/singers, gossip about famous people. There are even those who gossip about religious famous people. It's one thing to warn about heresy and false teaching but another thing when it gets to be personal attacks, namecalling, showing them up for more Youtube "likes". It becomes gossip and troublemaking. Keep strictly to the subject and quit the personal attacks.

Then there are the gossip shows like Jerry Springer who bring on regular people to air their dirty laundry in public before an audience. There are those shows like Dr. Phil who virtually do the same thing, just in a more "helpful" manner but the end result is the same... people's problems are televised for public consumption.

The Bible is telling us to avoid tale bearing and the word is particularly directed at those who traffic and make a profit off of talebearing. Back in the ancient days, the only way to spread gossip and slander and even lies was by going house to house. Today we have social media, Youtube, emails, cell phones and we don't even have to leave our house to do it.

We must try to walk the balance of telling the truth without falling into talebearing or gossiping. If it's none of my business, maybe keep my nose out of it. If I can't say something good, don't say anything at all. But there comes a time when truth must be told or else we are a false witness because we are letting others believe a lie.

We must be sure the truth is known about God's Word, His doctrines and His Commands. We must be sure to present the truth to deflect others on the path to destruction. We must tell the truth to protect the innocent or to bring justice when someone is guilty. It must be done gently and with the right attitude but sometimes it must be done. So some of these Youtubers who are attacking heresy may be doing the right thing but they walk a narrow balance so as not to fall into gossip, slander, talebearing, name calling, and hurting a brother or sister in Christ in a way that turns them away from Jesus instead of turning them to Jesus. It's a hard row to hoe so I don't envy them. Our emotions get involved sometimes and we stray over the lines of balance. Especially when we see things falling apart into apostasy, chaos and it seems the world has won another victory (or I should say, satan). But we must hold tight reigns over our mouths and be even more careful when we feel emotions taking hold of us. (Boy, that's easier said than done and I can be the world's worst at letting emotions take control.)

A false witness example, according to Jewish Law, you had to have 3 witnesses to agree on the evidence of the charge:

Matthew 26:59-65 ERV  The leading priests and the high council tried to find something against Jesus so that they could kill him. They tried to find people to lie and say that Jesus had done wrong.  60  Many people came and told lies about him. But the council could find no real reason to kill him. Then two people came  61  and said, "This man said, 'I can destroy the Temple of God and build it again in three days.'"  62  Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, "Don't you have anything to say about these charges against you? Are they telling the truth?"  63  But Jesus said nothing. Again the high priest said to Jesus, "You are now under oath. I command you by the power of the living God to tell us the truth. Tell us, are you the Messiah, the Son of God?"  64  Jesus answered, "Yes, that's right. But I tell you, in the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right side of God. And you will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven."  65  When the high priest heard this, he tore his clothes in anger. He said, "This man has said things that insult God! We don't need any more witnesses. You all heard his insulting words."

Jesus was condemned to death on this basis. He was crucified.

This is a good example to remember that our words do have a dangerous effect. We can use our words to harm someone to the point of resulting in their death. If we tell lies or ugly stories about others, someone could get mad enough to kill them just like the Jews killed Jesus. If we gossip, slander and verbally bully someone it could lead to their suicide or even (as we've seen in the news) murder/suicides. We must take control of our tongues and be careful what we say. How? The Holy Spirit within us can help us. Reading the Word, convicts us and helps us learn. Prayer and dialoguing with God about overwhelming problems and emotions we are feeling can help us gain a better, more even perspective. Not only is He a good listener but He is the only One who can actually do anything about whatever problems we are facing. He is a miracle working God!

Leviticus 19:18 You shall not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people; but you shall love your neighbor as yourself. I am Jehovah.

Romans 12:17-21 MKJV  Repay no one evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.  18  If it is possible, as far as is in you, being in peace with all men.  19  not avenging yourselves, beloved, but giving place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay, says the Lord."  20  Therefore if your enemy hungers, feed him. If he thirsts, give him drink. For in so doing you shall heap coals of fire on his head.  21  Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Boy, this is pretty clear. If someone does you dirty, you want to do them dirty right back don't you? I know I do. If someone tells stories about me, I want to tell stories about them. If someone talks bad about me, I want to jump right in and talk bad about them. If someone sues me, I want to sue them back for even more. If someone is a false witness against me, I want to make something up about them to get them in trouble too. Tit for tat, eye for eye, tooth for tooth.

Except here is God saying we should let it go and let God work it out. I know God doesn't mean we should keep quiet when we know something that is truthful and would bring about real justice. That would be a false witness. We should be truthful and willing to tell the truth even in a courtroom so someone is not wrongfully convicted or wrongfully acquitted. Again, there is balance. There comes a time when we can't do anything about a situation that helps so we have to pray and let God handle it. If we know John Doe killed someone but we don't tell the truth, we are being a false witness. We should be willing to tell the truth and hope it brings about justice and helps the innocent. On the other hand, sometimes everything is done and it still seems like there is no justice. Someone lets you down whether it's the judicial system, the judge, the lawyers, the law, whatever... But God isn't saying this gives you the right to take the law into your own hands and mete out justice your way. It's tempting, but God says, not to repay evil for evil and don't avenge yourself but trust God to do it. There comes a time when you have to release any wrongs and give it to God and trust He will do the right thing. Forgive (for your own mental and spiritual health) and let go and let God.

There is a television called Fear They Neighbor which is about how neighbors come to murderous arguments over things and someone dies! That's how bad it can get. You live in the same neighborhood with people who can be real nut jobs. They are not Christians. They may be experiencing mental illness. They may have been raised to handle conflict very differently from you. They may experience PTSD and lose control over little things. Maybe the marigolds you plant bring back memories of their Mama locking them in the closet because they picked her marigolds. They may be in the gradual decline of dementia and one stage of dementia is paranoia, unreasonable paranoia. I know Parkinson's Disease has a paranoid stage where you hallucinate things that didn't happen. I've seen both in my family and, believe me, you wouldn't wish that on your worst enemy. You just never know what is going on in someone's head, or life, that could come out in outrageous behavior. 

I have not lived next door to people that far out, thank God! We did have a neighbor that had a hissy fit on his front lawn because we had a yard sale. Jumping up and down like a toddler throwing a tantrum and yelling and calling my husband to come over and fight! Now, my husband was raised to physically fight back when challenged and, although he was much shorter than this neighbor, he didn't back down. It was like watching two rams come bouncing off each other's chests! Fortunately, they both backed down. We didn't have another yard sale until we sold our house and my husband and the neighbor made peace eventually. I know there are times when all you do to make peace with a neighbor is wasted because they will not be appeased. Nothing you do is right. Walk carefully and pray often for that neighbor.
 
This scripture tells us not to hate, not to avenge and not to bear a grudge. We should treat our neighbor as ourself (the Golden Rule). So, as much as it lies with you, be peaceable in your neighborhood. Don't be a hard head, a hot head, or butt head. If the rules are no fireworks, don't sneak and do fireworks. If the Homeowner's Assoc has rules follow them as much as you reasonably can. If someone else doesn't follow the rules, don't rush over and accuse, or jump all over them, to make them comply. Work within the system which is supposed to be there to keep everyone's property values high. And learn to let go.

Of course, there will be times when it's ridiculous and you are dealing with people who are, as I said above, off. There is insecurity due to mental illness, PTSD, family troubles, financial troubles, whatever. But, as much as it is within your control, be peaceable and don't carry bitterness, unforgiveness, hatred, anger and malice in your own heart. Try to overlook some things. Try praying for the wacky neighbors. Try being generous and helpful. If the good things aren't working, try ignoring them and overlooking their deliberate attempts to bait you. Don't give them the satisfaction to know it got on your last nerve. Don't engage.

If there is something illegal going on (such as selling drugs or drive by shootings, etc), it's the right thing to do to call the police. If things get out of hand, it may take the police to help mediate the situation. But don't become part of the police's problem by butting in, yelling, getting aggressive while they are trying to help you out. Keep calm, be reasonable, let the police know it isn't you they have to worry about. Answer their questions truthfully and step back and let them try to handle the wacky neighbor.

I know this sounds reasonable in a world that has a lot of unreasonable people. Your best bet is to pray and pray and pray some more. Pray that you can keep the right attitude and not fall into sin and pray for your neighbors. There is a reason for their actions whether it's hallucinatory, drug related, or just plain meanness. And only God can get through to people that far gone. If there is no way for you to get away from them, rely on God to do what you cannot do. You are responsible for your thoughts, actions, words. So take them to Jesus. Then take your neighbors and leave them in the hands of God who is perfectly able to take care of the problems. You might even practice prayer walking or prayer driving. I.e. pray for each neighbor as you come to their house while you are walking or driving. I've done this before.

The Power of Words

 

The Power of Words

How important is our speech? Some believe that our words create our environment becoming a self fulfilling prophecy. Others believe our words are merely words with no power. I happen to be firmly in the balance between the two. I believe our self talk and our spoken words are very important to control and use wisely but I'm not superstitious. I don't believe I can somehow jinx myself with my words or that my words are more powerful than God's grace. Let's look at it from a balanced point of view.

Psalm 19:14 (Modern King James Version - MKJV) Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, O Jehovah, my Rock and my Redeemer.

God is our Creator. He planned and designed us from the first cell to the last hair on our head. He planned our DNA, He knows when and to whom we will be born. He knows how long our days will be and when our last breath will usher us into His presence. He created this world for us. He provided everything we would need in this world to live. Oxygen, space, gravity, food, drink, healing properties (such as the vitamins in foods, plants, etc). He provided all that we need. This earth was made for us and we were made for this earth.

There is none like our God! We are His Creation! If we have accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior, then we are His Children! He is intimately aware and involved in every second of our lives. For those who are lost, He is everywhere present through the Holy Spirit, trying to lead them to the salvation knowledge of His Son so they can be saved. Even to their last breath, the Holy Spirit pleads with them to be saved! For those of us who are saved, the Holy Spirit is within us to teach us and grow us into the people God wants us to be. He lovingly crafts us from the inside out, empowers us to live better. With the Holy Spirit living in our hearts, we have power to live a better life!

This sets the stage for our subject about our words and our self talk. It is important for us to realize two things to be in balance:
1) God is the only all powerful Being. I am NOT God.
2) As a flawed human being, I am susceptible to negativity in my mind and in my environment.


If I say to a child, "You are stupid and always will be stupid," I am saying something that will hurt the child's feelings and self esteem. If I say it often enough, the child will begin to believe they are truly stupid. If you call someone names and make fun of them, verbally bullying them, it could result in a someone believing they are worthless and even lead to suicide.

On the other hand, if you tell your children you love them and are proud of them, they feel good about themselves. Do it often enough and they begin to believe they are lovable and valuable, with a healthy self image. If you compliment someone and give words of affirmation, encouragement, and support, the result could be a well adjusted adult who perpetuates the positive cycle with their own children.

So are words important? YES! Of course our words are important. We can tell ourselves (in our thought life) how ugly, awful, stupid, worthless we are and we will feel ugly, awful, stupid, and worthless. We can say the same to others and they may believe they are ugly, awful, stupid and worthless.

With our words we can be a peacemaker or stir up trouble. With our words we can give wisdom and direct others towards God or we can destroy budding faith and lead them away from God. With our words we can curse and with our words we can bless. We can lie or we can tell truth.

Proverbs 10:18-21 (King James Version - KJV) He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool. (19) In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise. (20) The tongue of the just is as choice silver: the heart of the wicked is little worth. (21) The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom.

Proverbs 10:18-21 (MKJV) He who hides hatred with lying lips, and he who speaks a slander, is a fool. (19) In the multitude of words, sin is not lacking; but he who holds back his lips is wise. (20) The tongue of the just is as choice silver; the heart of the wicked is worth little. (21) The lips of the righteous feed many; but fools die for lack of wisdom.

Proverbs 10:18-21 (Amplified - Amp) He who hides hatred has lying lips, And he who spreads slander is a fool. When there are many words, transgression and offense are unavoidable, But he who controls his lips and keeps thoughtful silence is wise. The tongue of the righteous is like precious silver (greatly valued); The heart of the wicked is worth little. The lips of the righteous feed and guide many, But fools [who reject God and His wisdom] die for lack of understanding.

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Proverbs 15:1-7 (MKJV) A soft answer turns away wrath, but grievous words stir up anger. (2) The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, but the mouth of fools pours out foolishness. (3) The eyes of Jehovah are in every place, beholding the evil and the good. (4) A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, but crookedness in it is a break in the spirit. (5) A fool despises his father's instruction, but he who listens to correction is wise. (6) In the house of the righteous is much treasure, but in the gain of the wicked is trouble. (7) The lips of the righteous send forth knowledge, but the heart of the foolish is not so.

Proverbs 15:1-7 (Amp) A soft and gentle and thoughtful answer turns away wrath, But harsh and painful and careless words stir up anger. The tongue of the wise speaks knowledge that is pleasing and acceptable, But the [babbling] mouth of fools spouts folly. The eyes of the Lord are in every place, Watching the evil and the good [in all their endeavors]. A soothing tongue [speaking words that build up and encourage] is a tree of life, But a perversive tongue [speaking words that overwhelm and depress] crushes the spirit. A [flippant, arrogant] fool rejects his father’s instruction and correction, But he who [is willing to learn and] regards and keeps in mind a reprimand acquires good sense. Great and priceless treasure is in the house of the [consistently] righteous one [who seeks godly instruction and grows in wisdom], But trouble is in the income of the wicked one [who rejects the laws of God]. The lips of the wise spread knowledge [sifting it as chaff from the grain]; But the hearts of [shortsighted] fools are not so.

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James 3:2-11 (Easy To Read Version - ERV) We all make many mistakes. A person who never said anything wrong would be perfect. Someone like that would be able to control their whole body too. (3) We put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us. With these bits we can control their whole body. (4) It is the same with ships. A ship is very big, and it is pushed by strong winds. But a very small rudder controls that big ship. And the one who controls the rudder decides where the ship will go. It goes where he wants it to go. (5) It is the same with our tongue. It is a small part of the body, but it can boast about doing great things. A big forest fire can be started with only a little flame. (6) The tongue is like a fire. It is a world of evil among the parts of our body. It spreads its evil through our whole body and starts a fire that influences all of life. It gets this fire from hell. (7) Humans have control over every kind of wild animal, bird, reptile, and fish, and they have controlled all these things. (8) But no one can control the tongue. It is wild and evil, full of deadly poison. (9) We use our tongues to praise our Lord and Father, but then we curse people who were created in God's likeness. (10) These praises and curses come from the same mouth. My brothers and sisters, this should not happen. (11) Do good water and bad water flow from the same spring? Of course not.
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Proverbs 18:21 (KJV) Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

Psalms 10:7 10:7 (MKJV) His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud; under his tongue are mischief and vanity.

In studying the above verses, we can see the power our tongue can have in hurting ourselves, hurting others, hurting nations!

How many leaders have spoken in pride and arrogance and caused great harm to their nation with deceitful words, angry words, artful words, lying words, manipulative words, persuasive words, and hate-filled words?!? How many leaders have spoken with humility and grace and caused healing between nations with truthful words, understanding words, wise words, revealing words, encouraging words?!?

If I use my tongue to give a false witness (lying under oath, lying, deceitful, deliberately concealing), I can send an innocent person to jail. If I use my tongue to tell the truth, I can help bring justice.

If I slander and gossip about someone, their reputation can be harmed to the point of destroying their marriage, family, business. What if that person has done something really wrong? This is where wisdom comes in. We must know when to be truthful and reveal things that need to be revealed. On the other hand, we also need to know when it's none of our business and it's best to keep quiet and let God handle things. If I hear my neighbor arguing in the privacy of their home, it's none of my business and I shouldn't be talking about it to others. It's not for me to gossip about and slander someone's reputation in the neighborhood. But if that argument escalates and I see my neighbor come running out the door chased by the spouse with a gun, I would be remiss if I didn't tell someone (call the police). I would, in no way, think I should keep quiet if I saw my neighbor murdering their spouse. If your pastor said an unkind word to you and it hurt your feelings, should you be telling everyone in the church who will listen? No. Say a prayer, pray and ask God to help you forgive and leave it to God. On the other hand, if you have found out your pastor is having an affair with the church secretary and they are about to abscond with the church's money, it's time to speak up. Be sure you do so with correct motivations and a pure heart, tell only the truth and don't rehearse it to everyone within a thousand mile radius. You use wisdom, discernment and you constantly keep a check on your own heart to try and keep from falling into sin yourself. Believe me, I know, it's a slippery slope so we do well to be careful. There are some things that are egregious enough that something has to be said. But there are many times when it's best to keep quiet, to remain prayerful, to let words be few.

If we argue with our family, it's so easy to pop off and say hurtful things. These things can damage our loved ones and may be hard for them to get over. I've done it, you've done it. We've also been recipients of angry, hateful words and we know how it hurts. In the heat of anger, we can unleash terrible hurt. Those who are on the receiving end will respond in defense, in anger, in hurt. We can lose control and it become a major eruption or lead to a longstanding feud. Some people never forgive. As Christians, we are called to forgive. But if we are the ones on the receiving end, it's one of the hardest things you'll ever do. In fact, in our human-ness, we cannot do it. But, with the Holy Spirit living inside of us, we can pray and let the Holy Spirit work that forgiveness out in us over time. I will confess that in a couple of instances, the hurt was so deep it took some years and much prayer, asking God's help, to reach a place where I felt I had fully forgiven. I didn't do it all right and I'm not superhuman. God had to deal with me, direct my thoughts, lead me to a place of humility and repentance. Then He began to empower me to forgive. Each time the anger and hurt came back, I would try to take it to Him and let Him deal with it in my heart and with the person(s) who hurt me. Sometimes it's harder to forgive those who hurt your loved ones than it is to forgive those who hurt you. I've heard people say, "I will NEVER forgive you and I hope you rot in hell." Knowing their circumstances, I can understand where they are coming from. If someone murdered, raped, tortured, stole from someone in my family, I could understand that sentiment. But God calls us to be forgiving. This sounds impossible but we have a secret weapon that will allow us to do impossible things... the Holy Spirit lives within us! If God calls us to do something, He has given us the Holy Spirit to empower us to do it. Without God's help, I cannot do it, but with Him all things are possible. The Holy Spirit can help me to come to a place where I can finally let it go and forgive so I can live a better and more healthy life. I can eventually let God deal with the murderer/rapist/thief/terrorist's heart so I can be free from the horror that clings to me with unforgiveness and bitterness.

During times of stress, anger, arguments, we would be wise to use self control with our tongue. We don't want it to escalate and we don't want to unleash something we can't put back in the bottle! In anger we tend to call each other names, bring up past hurtful things, make unrealistic comparisons, curse, try to use our words deliberately to hurt because they are hurting us. The Bible teaches us to be wise, use self control and manage your anger so that the result is healing and not destruction. Again, I cannot do this on my own. I'm too human. I'm a sinner and it's what sinners do. But I have my secret weapon. A weapon so powerful that it raised Christ from the dead! Romans 8:11 (KJV) "But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you." The Holy Spirit dwells in me and can enable me to do what God calls me to do. I can be a peacemaker rather than an instigator. God can help me use my words correctly. I will never get it all right every time. But I can get better, do better, speak better, be better as I grow in Christ.

Therefore our words can be used wisely. Sometimes, things need to be said. Truth needs to be told and sometimes that means confrontation. Anyone with a child knows they test your boundaries from the time they begin walking and talking. You can't totally avoid conflict and confrontation if you are a good parent. A bad parent will let things slide and avoid the conflict to the detriment of the child who grows up with no boundaries and no self discipline. A good parent will confront the child wisely and with self control, reveal truth, and help them learn better ways. For instance, let's say a teenager is sneaking out with friends to parties and doing drugs, alcohol, sex. Usually, a good parent has spent time since their children were little to introduce discipline, positive example, teaching, giving wise advice, and setting boundaries with consequences. Even then, some teenagers will still act out and be hard to handle. It's the nature of being a human. But if you ignore and avoid the conflict, in order to have peace... you are doing untold harm to your teenager! A bad parent ignores and avoids destructive behavior just for the sake of some peace. Your peace will be shortlived. There is a time to confront. But do so wisely. You don't confront your wayward teen with name calling, cursing, shouting, belittling, smirking, self righteous smugness, etc. You use your words and your body language to communicate wisely and with self control.

Then there is the importance of self talk. What do we tell ourselves in our thought life? I have really struggled with this and maybe, being human, we all have. I tend to tell myself all the negative and bad things over and over again. "Nobody loves me, I'm unlovable, I'm ugly, I'm stupid, I can't do anything right, I do everything wrong, why is everything my fault, why was I born, I'm fat, I'm too tall, I'm too short, I have big feet, my nose is ugly, no one would ever want to be with me, why didn't I finish college, I'll never have a good job, I'll always be alone...." It is like a repeating mantra in our mind. If we let it continue, it becomes very hard to re-train our mind. I have not mastered this but I want to work on it. All this negative and defeating self talk makes me depressed and overwhelmed. My thoughts run the same rabbit trail every time I get a little down.

Did you know that animals make trails. They go over the same ground again and again to get to food, water, shelter, etc. Over time, those trails can be followed. The Indians followed animal trails, wagons followed the Indian trails, roads came from the trails. They became paved and some are now super-highways. We have a road in our area called Blackstock Road. From what I've heard, original animal trails were followed by Indians. Later these trails were used by white men who drove their livestock down these trails to markets. The trails became roads that were used to drive livestock and at times were so busy that you could see a black line of movement from far away... thus it was called Blackstock Rd. This road is now a paved road cars use all day long. My point is that our thoughts can make trails in our minds and before long we can unconsciously follow these trails and they become roads and highways. It's easy to travel that highway of doubt, negativity, denigration, shame, pain, and defeat because your thoughts have traveled there so often. It's harder to train your mind to go in a different direction through unused areas of positive thinking. It's like pushing through undergrowth the first time in a wilderness. It's a little exhausting but you make yourself do it. The next time the path is a little easier and if you keep at it, the old highway of shame will become overgrown from disuse while the new road to healthy thoughts is easy to navigate. I should work at having faith-filled thoughts instead of faithless thoughts.

Notice all that self talk was "I... I... I..."? It's all about me even if it's critical of myself. One day I realized how self involved I was with all this constant negative babble. I was consumed with ME! I didn't like me. But I could talk bad about me all day long. My world was revolving around me even though it was a self-proclaimed horrible me! And then it hit me! God created me and I was really saying God's handiwork is worthless, God didn't know what He was doing when He created me!?! When I wished I had never been born, I was saying God didn't know what He was doing when He designed, planned and created me. Who was I to say God's creation is worthless, ugly, unlovable?!? I'm His handiwork. Every human being is!

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In studying this, we have seen how important our words are and how powerful they can be for good or bad. But some people can go to the opposite extreme. There are those who make their money on teaching positive thinking and creating your own life through positive words. The power of positive thinking! Religious and secular speakers, alike, have marketed this in neat packages of seminars, books, self help tapes, videos, etc. Christian speakers can be called "prosperity preachers" if they think you can pray for blessings, riches, health and speak these things out with our words and they will come true. I can pray to be healed, speak that I am healed and I will be healed. It's all based on a formula. Pray for it, believe it, speak it, receive it.

As we have seen, there is some truth about how effective and powerful our words can be. But do we have the ability to create a self fulfilling prophecy with our thoughts and words? As we've seen, to some degree, we can. I can tell myself no one loves me and will feel unloved even if I'm surrounded by a loving and supportive family. But there is a limit to our "power".

You see, God is the only ultimate power. He is the only all powerful, all knowing, all seeing, ever present God. I am not. God created the earth by speaking it into being. I did not. God said, Let there be light: and there was light. I cannot do this. I am His Creation and He is the Creator. It's not the other way around. God is the one in control and He is the only one with the wisdom to wield control. Give me that kind of power and I'm gonna do something stupid and make a terrible mess. Thank God, I'm NOT Him!!!!

I have seen people who have become downright superstitious about the power of their words. If someone asks, "How are you?", they will say, "I'm blessed and highly favored" because they think "If I say, I'm not feeling good, I'll end up sick". You might as well say, "I'm doing good, knock on wood."

I do not control God with my thoughts or my words! God does not do my bidding. He is not my magic geni who does whatever I say. I cannot manipulate God to bless me or curse me with my words. I cannot persuade God with formulas of speech. When I pray, it is to align myself with God, not align God with me. It is to communicate with my Father and to spend time in His Presence so that I come out of my time with Him, more like Him. It is not to spend time with God so God comes out of our time more like me. I'm not there to convince God to my way of thinking! Or to make demands of God, Or make deals with God. I pray so that I am moving with God into His Will and His good pleasure. I can make my petitions to God. I can be honest with God and tell Him how I feel and what I want but then I must come to trust Him and His Ways; to lean on Him and not insist in my own desires. I can have honest dialogue with God. He knows it anyway. I can tell Him I'm hurt, frustrated, mad, confused, depressed, overwhelmed, feeling alone and unloved. But prayer is not just a one way street. After I'm honest with my feelings to God, I must allow Him to bring healing and lead my thoughts to higher ways. The result should be faith in Him and what He will do in His Way and His Timing. Prayer is not a list of demands. It is a time of communication and communion where you should come out with a self adjustment... adjusting self out and God in. As we come to understand how much God loves us, we can begin to learn to trust Him and His Love even when things around us are looking bleak. We can know that we know that we know, that He is doing what is best because He loves us and is working good things in and around us for eternal purposes. Trusting in that kind of love takes time getting to know that kind of God and is what prayer is all about.

So, are my words important? Yes. Can they take the place of God and create my own reality? No. Only God's Word is forever and all powerful.

Psalms 12:6 (MKJV) The Words of Jehovah are pure Words, like silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.

Isaiah 55:10-11 (MKJV) For as the rain comes down, and the snow from the heavens, and does not return there, but waters the earth, and makes it bring out and bud, and give seed to the sower and bread to the eater; (11) so shall My Word be, which goes out of My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall certainly do what I sent it to do.

Hebrews 4:12 (MKJV) For the Word of God is living and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing apart of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Psalms 33:6 (MKJV) By the Word of Jehovah were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of His mouth.

Mark 13:31 (MKJV) Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My Words shall not pass away.


I am thankful that my many faithless, negative, hurtful, mean words have not created my reality. I am too fallible and will say the wrong things. I am humbled because I know I do it wrong so many times. But God forgives and He is ever faithful. I deserve the negative results of my faithless, shameful and doubting thoughts that are then manifested in my speech. The heart is the fountain, words are the streams.

Matthew 15:18-20 (Contemporary English Version - CEV) But the words that come out of your mouth come from your heart. And they are what make you unfit to worship God. (19) Out of your heart come evil thoughts, murder, unfaithfulness in marriage, vulgar deeds, stealing, telling lies, and insulting others. (20) These are what make you unclean...

Luke 6:45 (CEV) Good people do good things because of the good in their hearts. Bad people do bad things because of the evil in their hearts. Your words show what is in your heart.


But God's grace saves me from them. I will have the consequences to deal with but God is with me and will help me overcome the consequences of a negative thought life and negative words. I may have to eat some humble pie and apologize to those I've hurt with my words. I may have to work hard to re-train my mind with good, healthy thoughts and learn to speak faith-filled and encouraging words. But God will help me. He is with me all the way and will never leave or forsake me because of my sins even the sins of the tongue. He is changing this weak and sinful heart. Out of that old heart came destructive thoughts and words. But I am a new creation through Christ Jesus and the Holy Spirit lives within me. He is teaching me a new way.

Romans 12:2 (MKJV) "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, in order to prove by you what is that good and pleasing and perfect will of God."

In conclusion, our self talk and our words are important to control and use for good. It is helpful to us and to those around us. But we are fallible and we make mistakes and we do it wrong so many times. Thank God, He is the only one whose words are forever and faithful and true. His Words are the only words that are all powerful and eternal. So is His Grace! He forgives and gives us grace and mercy so that we can change. Let's work on our thought life and our words. It benefits us. But if we fail, and we will, God still loves us and will make a way to redeem our hasty and unwise words if we trust Him.

Colossians 3:15-17 (CEV) Each one of you is part of the body of Christ, and you were chosen to live together in peace. So let the peace that comes from Christ control your thoughts. And be grateful. (16) Let the message about Christ completely fill your lives, while you use all your wisdom to teach and instruct each other. With thankful hearts, sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. (17) ;Whatever you say or do should be done in the name of the Lord Jesus, as you give thanks to God the Father because of him.

Proverbs 10:27-32

Proverbs 10:27-32 (NKJV) 27 The fear of the LORD prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.
28 The hope of the righteous shall be gladness: but the expectation of the wicked shall perish.
29 The way of the LORD is strength to the upright: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.
30 The righteous shall never be removed: but the wicked shall not inhabit the earth.
31 The mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom: but the froward tongue shall be cut out.
32 The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked speaketh frowardness.

Proverbs 10:27-32 (NIV) 27 The fear of the Lord adds length to life,
but the years of the wicked are cut short.
28 The prospect of the righteous is joy,
but the hopes of the wicked come to nothing.
29 The way of the Lord is a refuge for the blameless,
but it is the ruin of those who do evil.
30 The righteous will never be uprooted,
but the wicked will not remain in the land.
31 From the mouth of the righteous comes the fruit of wisdom,
but a perverse tongue will be silenced.
32 The lips of the righteous know what finds favor,
but the mouth of the wicked only what is perverse.

Proverbs 10:27-32 (NLT) 27 Fear of the LORD lengthens one’s life,
but the years of the wicked are cut short.
28 The hopes of the godly result in happiness,
but the expectations of the wicked come to nothing.
29 The way of the LORD is a stronghold to those with integrity,
but it destroys the wicked.
30 The godly will never be disturbed,
but the wicked will be removed from the land.
31 The mouth of the godly person gives wise advice,
but the tongue that deceives will be cut off.
32 The lips of the godly speak helpful words,
but the mouth of the wicked speaks perverse words.

Comparison and Contrast:
Righteous

• fear of the Lord prolongeth days; adds length to life; lengthens one's life
• hope shall be gladness; prospect is joy; hopes result in happiness
• the way of the Lord is strength; their way is a refuge for the blameless; the way of the Lord is a stronghold to those with integrity
• never removed; never uprooted; never disturbed
• mouth brings forth wisdom; mouth bring fruit of wisdom; gives wise advice
• lips know what is acceptable; lips know what finds favor; speak helpful words

Wicked

• shortened years; years are cut short; years are cut short
• expectation shall perish, hopes come to nothing; expectations come to nothing
• destruction; their way lead to ruin; fear of the Lord destroys the wicked
• shall not inhabit the earth; will not remain in the land; removed from the land
• froward tongue cut out; perverse tongue cut out; tongue that deceives will be cut off
• speaks frowardness; speaks only what is perverse; speaks perverse words

David wrote this when he was betrayed by a friend:
Psalm 55:18-23 (BSB) 18 He redeems my soul in peace
from the battle waged against me,
even though many oppose me.
19 God will hear and humiliate them—
the One enthroned for the ages—

Selah (Pause and think about it)

because they do not change
and they have no fear of God.
20 My companion attacks his friends;
he violates his covenant.
21 His speech is smooth as butter,
but war is in his heart.
His words are softer than oil,
yet they are swords unsheathed.
22 Cast your burden upon the LORD
and He will sustain you;
He will never let the righteous be shaken.
23 But You, O God, will bring them down
to the Pit of destruction;
men of bloodshed and deceit
will not live out half their days.
But I will trust in You.

Psalm 1:6 For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

Psalm 84:5-7 (NLT) 5 What joy for those whose strength comes from the LORD,
who have set their minds on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem.
6 When they walk through the Valley of Weeping,
it will become a place of refreshing springs.
The autumn rains will clothe it with blessings.
7 They will continue to grow stronger,
and each of them will appear before God in Jerusalem.

Psalm 17:1-7,16-18,20,27-29 (NLT)  1 Don’t worry about the wicked
or envy those who do wrong.
2 For like grass, they soon fade away.
Like spring flowers, they soon wither.
3 Trust in the LORD and do good.
Then you will live safely in the land and prosper.
4 Take delight in the LORD,
and he will give you your heart’s desires.
5 Commit everything you do to the LORD.
Trust him, and he will help you.
6 He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn,
and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun.
7 Be still in the presence of the LORD,
and wait patiently for him to act.
Don’t worry about evil people who prosper
or fret about their wicked schemes...
16 It is better to be godly and have little
than to be evil and rich.
17 For the strength of the wicked will be shattered,
but the LORD takes care of the godly.
18 Day by day the LORD takes care of the innocent,
and they will receive an inheritance that lasts forever...
20 But the wicked will die.
The LORD’s enemies are like flowers in a field—
they will disappear like smoke.
27 Turn from evil and do good,
and you will live in the land forever.
28 For the LORD loves justice,
and he will never abandon the godly.
He will keep them safe forever,
but the children of the wicked will die.
29 The godly will possess the land
and will live there forever.

Romans 12:11-12 11 Do not let your zeal subside; keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, persistent in prayer.

Remember, wisdom is godly wisdom. It begins and ends with God. All true wisdom comes from Him for He is wisdom. Father, Son and Holy Ghost are wisdom. The fear of the Lord is a reverent love and adoration of the Godhead: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

The first verse today says, "the fear of the Lord adds length to life". Does this mean Christians live longer than others?

We all were designed and created by God. And God knows the length of our days. When it is our time, He calls us. That may be at 1 day old or 99 years old, but all of us have a limited time on this earth. God alone is in control of the minute we are born and the minute we die. If we try to take control of these two things then we are trying to play God and we don't have the physical, mental or spiritual capacity to be God.

But there is still truth to these proverbs because God's people, those who have accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior, will live in eternity with God. But the wicked, the godless, the unsaved who have rejected Jesus Christ, will spend their eternity in judgment in hell and the Lake of Fire. Our inheritance is everything God offers us and we will live in eternal bliss. Our lives on this earth are limited and a very small blip of time compared to eternity. Our prospect is eternal joy! Our God is our refuge and strong tower. We shall not be removed. He establishes our eternal home and we are protected by Him forever!!

The wicked may prosper for a short time, but they will reap what they sow (ruin, destruction) unless they turn and repent and accept Jesus Christ. For those who refuse the offer of salvation through Jesus Christ, their end is judgment in eternal flames. They may hope to escape judgment by doing something good to "pay their way", but their hope comes to nothing. We cannot save ourselves. Nothing we do can ever pay our way into Heaven. We can only be saved through Jesus Christ. We have to do it God's Way or we won't make it. People try all different kinds of ways to get into Heaven but unless it's through Jesus Christ, their hope comes to nothing and they suffer judgment. They may try to buy a stained glass window for a church; they may try to build homes for disabled veterans; they may give donations to the homeless... but none of that washes them of their sins. It only whitewashes their heart. Only Jesus can forgive and cleanse. Only the righteousness of Jesus Christ earns us acceptance into the family of God and gives us an inheritance of eternal life.

• Are you one of the righteous, saved by Jesus Christ? Take a moment and praise and worship Him who has saved you! Thank Him for the inheritance you have that can never be taken away and the joy that is coming!
• Are you one of the wicked, the unsaved? Have you come to the recognition that you cannot save yourself and you need a Savior? Now is the time to repent and ask Jesus Christ to forgive you and come into your heart. There is no sin that cannot be forgiven except the sin of rejecting Jesus Christ as Savior. Humble yourself before Him and ask Him to forgive you and be the Lord of your life.
• Do you have joy in the hope of your eternal life? If not, ask Jesus to come into your heart. If you do, praise God for His saving grace!

Click here for all my studies on Proverbs.

Proverbs 10:26

 Proverbs 10:26 (NKJV) As vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes,

So is the lazy man to those who send him.

Proverbs 10:26 (NIV) As vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes,
so are sluggards to those who send them.

Proverbs 10:26 (NLT) Lazy people irritate their employers,
like vinegar to the teeth or smoke in the eyes.

Proverbs 10:26 (MES) A lazy employee will give you nothing but trouble;
it’s vinegar in the mouth, smoke in the eyes.

Sluggard - habitually lazy person; a lazy, sleepy, slow-moving person; loves sleep and hates work; habitually lazy, idle and inactive; a person who is lazy, stupid, or idle by habit; indolent, laggard, loafer, drone.

As vinegar causes teeth to ache and smoke causes eyes to burn, so a sluggard irritates an employer, customers/clients and co-workers.

In one of my favorite British comedies, Keeping Up Appearances, there are 4 sisters: Hyacinth, Violet, Rose and Daisy. Their father is elderly and suffers dementia. Hyacinth loves her daddy but is very ashamed of his dementia, his lack of social status. Daisy is married to Onslow and she affectionately describes him as "bone idle". She, Onslow and Rose live "on the dole" which in America would be living on government welfare. Violet is a mentioned character but you rarely see her. She is married to a wealthy man and she has "a Mercedes, a home with a pool, sauna and room for a pony"! Her husband is always into some weird and embarrassing sex practices. Hyacinth is the middle class sister married to a timid Richard. They are middle aged, middle class, middle income but Hyacinth is deeply proud and wants everyone to think she's a wealthy, aristocratic socialite. She's very ashamed of Daisy, Onslow and Rose. And she loves to tell everyone about her sister who has a large house "with room for a pony". When she talks to Violet and she hears about her husband's latest fetish, Hyacinth tries to ignore that part and counsels her sister to overlook and stay with him because he's rich. When she talks to Daisy, she is critical of Onslow because he doesn't work and they live in a slum. When she talks to Rose (played by 2 different actresses) she's always encouraging her to find a rich man, someone with status. When I think of a sluggard, I think of Onslow.

Let's look at someone who was a hard worker, the Apostle Paul. He worked primarily for God as he led others to Christ and started churches. But he also did manual labor to cover his own expenses so that no one could accuse him of doing it for the money. Let's look at some clues he left us in his letters to different churches:

Acts 18:1-4 (NLT)  1 Then Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. 2 There he became acquainted with a Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, who had recently arrived from Italy with his wife, Priscilla. They had left Italy when Claudius Caesar deported all Jews from Rome. 3 Paul lived and worked with them, for they were tentmakers just as he was.
4 Each Sabbath found Paul at the synagogue, trying to convince the Jews and Greeks alike.

1 Corinthians 4:9-13 (CEV)  9 It seems to me that God has put us apostles in the worst possible place. We are like prisoners on their way to death. Angels and the people of this world just laugh at us. 10 Because of Christ we are thought of as fools, but Christ has made you wise. We are weak and hated, but you are powerful and respected. 11 Even today we go hungry and thirsty and don't have anything to wear except rags. We are mistreated and don't have a place to live. 12 We work hard with our own hands, and when people abuse us, we wish them well. When we suffer, we are patient. 13 When someone curses us, we answer with kind words. Until now we are thought of as nothing more than the trash and garbage of this world.

1 Corinthian 9:1-23 (NLT)  1 Am I not as free as anyone else? Am I not an apostle? Haven’t I seen Jesus our Lord with my own eyes? Isn’t it because of my work that you belong to the Lord? 2 Even if others think I am not an apostle, I certainly am to you. You yourselves are proof that I am the Lord’s apostle.
3 This is my answer to those who question my authority. 4 Don’t we have the right to live in your homes and share your meals? 5 Don’t we have the right to bring a believing wife with us as the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers do, and as Peter does? 6 Or is it only Barnabas and I who have to work to support ourselves?
7 What soldier has to pay his own expenses? What farmer plants a vineyard and doesn’t have the right to eat some of its fruit? What shepherd cares for a flock of sheep and isn’t allowed to drink some of the milk? 8 Am I expressing merely a human opinion, or does the law say the same thing? 9 For the law of Moses says, “You must not muzzle an ox to keep it from eating as it treads out the grain.” Was God thinking only about oxen when he said this? 10 Wasn’t he actually speaking to us? Yes, it was written for us, so that the one who plows and the one who threshes the grain might both expect a share of the harvest.
11 Since we have planted spiritual seed among you, aren’t we entitled to a harvest of physical food and drink? 12 If you support others who preach to you, shouldn’t we have an even greater right to be supported? But we have never used this right. We would rather put up with anything than be an obstacle to the Good News about Christ.
13 Don’t you realize that those who work in the temple get their meals from the offerings brought to the temple? And those who serve at the altar get a share of the sacrificial offerings. 14 In the same way, the Lord ordered that those who preach the Good News should be supported by those who benefit from it. 15 Yet I have never used any of these rights. And I am not writing this to suggest that I want to start now. In fact, I would rather die than lose my right to boast about preaching without charge. 16 Yet preaching the Good News is not something I can boast about. I am compelled by God to do it. How terrible for me if I didn’t preach the Good News!
17 If I were doing this on my own initiative, I would deserve payment. But I have no choice, for God has given me this sacred trust. 18 What then is my pay? It is the opportunity to preach the Good News without charging anyone. That’s why I never demand my rights when I preach the Good News.
19 Even though I am a free man with no master, I have become a slave to all people to bring many to Christ. 20 When I was with the Jews, I lived like a Jew to bring the Jews to Christ. When I was with those who follow the Jewish law, I too lived under that law. Even though I am not subject to the law, I did this so I could bring to Christ those who are under the law. 21 When I am with the Gentiles who do not follow the Jewish law, I too live apart from that law so I can bring them to Christ. But I do not ignore the law of God; I obey the law of Christ.
22 When I am with those who are weak, I share their weakness, for I want to bring the weak to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some. 23 I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings.

2 Corinthians 2:17 Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as those sent from God.

1 Thessalonians 1:1-9 (NIV)  1 You know, brothers and sisters, that our visit to you was not without results. 2 We had previously suffered and been treated outrageously in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in the face of strong opposition. 3 For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you. 4 On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts. 5 You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed—God is our witness. 6 We were not looking for praise from people, not from you or anyone else, even though as apostles of Christ we could have asserted our authority. 7 Instead, we were like young children a among you.
Just as a nursing mother cares for her children, 8 so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well. 9 Surely you remember, brothers and sisters, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you.

The Apostle Paul took pride in preaching and teaching without charge to anyone. He lived to preach about salvation through Jesus Christ, the gospel. But he worked a day job to cover his own expenses. He probably rarely had time to be "idle" and certainly not, as Daisy would say, "bone idle".

Being a good worker, a hard worker, an honest and dependable worker will usually take you far. If you are reliable and do a good job, you are usually rewarded. If you are a slacker and everyone else has to take up the slack and do more work because you don't do your job, you will have consequences. Your co-workers won't like working with you. Your boss looks for ways to get rid of you. You don't get promotions or raises. You might not get a good work reference when you apply for another job. You will be the first to be laid off in a general lay off. If you manage to keep your job, you will face conflict and tension with co-workers who are tired of doing your work for you and from customers and clients who don't appreciate you wasting their time.

Have you ever seen a worker who is slow, inept, inefficient? My niece and I took her children to a drive-in restaurant. They took our order and we paid for it at the menu board where we parked in their parking lot. The poor young man who brought us our order had not gotten it right. He ended up making 3 trips back and forth to get it right. He had the printed out ticket but he kept getting it messed up. I don't know if he couldn't read or just wouldn't take the time to read it. But it cost him in back and forth trips. We tried to be kind about it but you know there are people out there that won't be. All he had to do was read the ticket and place the items on a tray and bring it to us. But he wasn't going to go to the trouble of doing that and we had to keep telling him what we were missing. It seems we probably had been mixed up with another order. It's not only aggravating for the customer, but for him too because he was the one having to make the trips back and forth.

• Have you ever gone to a business where the employee is sluggish, lazy, inefficient, and unreliable (gets the orders mixed up)? Is it aggravating? Waiting in line because someone is slow and doesn't care? You get your order and you have to go through it to make sure it's right and to get them do it again? I'm sure you have, now how did you handle it? With grace and patience? With understanding? With gritted teeth ("like vinegar to the teeth")? Or did you have a tantrum, jump across the counter and throttle the employee? Journal about the correct way to handle it and why.
• Have you ever worked with, or employed, someone who is a sluggard? Is it irritating like "smoke in the eyes"?
• Have you ever been a sluggard at home or on the job? Would someone consider you "bone idle"? Now that you have read this post, what are you thinking? Time for a change? Are people enabling you to be lazy? Are they doing the work for you? How fair is that to them? Are people saddled with doing their job and yours too?
• Are you appreciative of a good worker? If you are an employer, how have you rewarded good work? If you are a co-worker, how have you shown appreciation to those who work hard around you. Many hands make light work. A good co-worker makes going to work easier and a joy. Show some appreciation. Are you a customer or client and you have received good service? How can you reward the worker?

Click here for all my studies on Proverbs.

Proverbs 10:24-25

 Proverbs 10:24-25 (NKJV)  24 The fear of the wicked will come upon him,

And the desire of the righteous will be granted.
25 When the whirlwind passes by, the wicked is no more,
But the righteous has an everlasting foundation.

Proverbs 10:24-25 (NIV)  24 What the wicked dread will overtake them;
what the righteous desire will be granted.
25 When the storm has swept by, the wicked are gone,
but the righteous stand firm forever.

Proverbs 10:24-25 (MES)  24 The nightmares of the wicked come true;
    what the good people desire, they get.
25 When the storm is over, there’s nothing left of the wicked;
    good people, firm on their rock foundation, aren’t even fazed.

The difference between the righteous and the wicked lies not in the existence of these emotions of fear and hope now, but in their issue at last. In each character there are the same two emotions now; in each, at the final reckoning, one of these emotions will be realized and the other disappointed. It is not difficult to ascertain what are the chief fears and desires of a wicked man. Cleaving to his sins, he is in enmity against God. The terrors of the Lord glance from time to time like lightning in his conscience. He fears the wrath of God, and the punishment of sin. What does he desire or hope? His desire for time is the indulgence of his appetites; his desire for eternity is that there should be no God, or at least, that He should not be just to mark iniquity. What becomes of the fears of the righteous? What becomes of the darkness when the daylight shines? When Christ comes, His coming shall be morning. The saints are subject to fears. The promise to believers is not that they shall never fear; it is that the thing feared will never come upon them. Their desire is that they may be pardoned through the blood of Christ, and renewed after His image. When these are the desires of our souls, how safe we are! - The Biblical Illustrator, W. Arnot, D.D.

The unsaved fear God and the righteous judgment which is the consequence of their sins. They may renounce God and declare Him dead. They may scream to the tops of their lungs that there is no God. They try to make themselves into their own tin gods. They worship themselves and they try to have control over everything. They think they are the captains of their fates. But deep down they fear that there is a God and He is the one in control and they are going to face Him in judgment. The wicked are afraid of being seen for who they really are. They are afraid of being exposed and others seeing their evil and shameful deeds. They are afraid of the consequences of their sins. They are afraid of dying and facing judgment. They are afraid of being caught and losing everything, especially control.

You can find plenty of living examples of those who have been caught and have lost all control over their lives. Prisons are full of criminals who thought they were in control and somehow they wouldn't be caught. Addicts who thought they were in control and somehow they wouldn't become addicts who have lost all control over their lives. Adulterers who thought they were in control and somehow they would get away with it but have lost their loving spouses and trusting children in costly divorces. And if they don't repent, they face everlasting judgment for rejecting Jesus Christ and His forgiveness.

Just when you think you've got it all covered and you can do what you want is the moment you should be very afraid.

The Bonfire of the Vanities by Tom Wolfe
The story centers on Sherman McCoy, a successful New York City bond trader. His $3 million Park Avenue apartment, combined with his aristocratic wife and their expenses, required to keep up appearances, are depleting his income. He is a Yale graduate and a very successful bond seller. In the early part of the book, McCoy sees himself as a self-described "Master of the Universe"! I.e. he sees himself as God. From his lofty, and wealthy, perch, he looks down on everyone else. In his smug superiority, he looks down on his wife, his child, his dog, his mistress, his co-workers, the man on the street. Only he is worthy of praise. Everyone else is only worthy of his disdain. They are the leavings on the bottom of his shoe. He is in control and he does whatever he wants because he thinks it's owed to him. The universe should bless him because he deserves it.

For example, he looks at his wife, who is goodlooking for a woman of 40. She keeps herself in good physical shape. But he has no admiration for her, only disdain. She's "skinny" and "40". He thinks he deserves better and has an adulterous affair with a younger woman, Maria, the socialite wife of another Park Avenue millionaire. Although what they do to their respective spouses and children is shameful, deceitful and low down, he doesn't see it that way. He's doing what he wants to do and he thinks he deserves to sin with no consequences. Whatever he wants, he deserves, because he's the "Master of the Universe".

But one night, in one second, his life is ruined. He and Maria get lost in a bad NY neighborhood. They try to exit onto a highway but the exit is blocked. He gets out to move stuff out of the way. Two black men approach him and he and Maria get scared. She jumps into the driver's seat and picks up McCoy and fishtails out of there. But as the car skids, it evidently hits one of the black men, killing him. A drunk of a reporter and a pathetic civil attorney figure out the black man was hit by a car owned by a wealthy, white man. They turn it into a hate crime and it's picked up by an African American group led by the notorious Reverend Bacon as a racial injustice. It all comes tumbling down.

In the Old Testament we find the story of Noah. The story begins with:

Genesis 6:5 Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

Genesis 6:8-9  8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.
9 This is the genealogy of Noah. Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations. Noah walked with God.

He was righteous because he believed in God. God directed him to build an ark and Noah obeyed because he believed in God. It took 120 years for Noah to build the ark and he preached righteousness to those who came around to mock him. When it was finished and it was time to load up, God told Moses. Once all the animals were loaded up, Moses and his family went in and God shut the door on the ark. Then came The Great Flood. Moses and his family were rescued by God and God made sure the ark made it safely back onto dry land. When they were allowed back out of the ark, God opened the door. Noah immediately made an altar and sacrificed in worship of God.

Genesis 8:20-21  20 Then Noah built an altar to the Lord, and took of every clean animal and of every clean bird, and offered burnt offerings on the altar. 21 And the Lord smelled a soothing aroma. Then the Lord said in His heart, “I will never again curse the ground for man’s sake, although the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; nor will I again destroy every living thing as I have done.

What a difference between Sherman McCoy, who thought he was Master of the Universe, and Noah, the one who depended on the true Master of the Universe, God! What McCoy was afraid of, happened. But Noah had an everlasting foundation in God.

• What would be the worst nightmare of someone who has rejected Jesus Christ as Savior?
• Write out your comparison of Sherman McCoy and Noah. What are the contrasts?
• Can you think of your own example of someone who thought they had it all but lost it all in a moment?
• Read Psalm 145:18-20 and ponder on it in your journal.

Click here for all my studies on Proverbs.