Proverbs 30: 32. "If you have been foolish
in exalting yourself, or if you have plotted
evil, put your hand on your mouth."
When we seek to promote ourselves or have
plotted evil, God sees these as
self-promotion and evil-plotting. Sometimes
we see self-promotion as an ego thing not as
an evil thing, but according to the writer,
ego-promotion is evil-promotion. How can
this be avoided? Put your hand over your
mouth! Both of these are the results of an
uncontrolled tongue. If we can keep our
mouth shut we may be able to avoid
self-promotion and plotting evil. This
sounds simple but it is profoundly wise.
When we want to say something that elevates
ourselves in the eyes of others or will
prompt plotting evil, put your hand over you
mouth. This will immediately remind us of
the danger of our words, the foolishness of
what we might say, and give us a moment to
ponder what would be the right, wise, and
best thing to say (or not say) in a
situation.
When we refuse to promote ourselves then God
will promote in a way that is better and in
which He receives the glory, not us. When we
refuse to plot evil, God will bring to mind
that which exalts and is good and right.
And when we speak, we will speak with His
wisdom. So, the next time you are in a
situation that you could be self-promoting
or evil-plotting, "raise your hand" to cover
your mouth, and either you will hesitate to
speak in a self-promoting way, or you will
be silenced completely from promoting evil!
Sometimes raising our hands means we are
shutting our mouth!
In
Christ,
Tommy Middleton
< Read
more about Dr. Middleton >
