Probing Proverbs 13:3-4 Those who control their tongue
will have a long life; opening your mouth can ruin everything. Lazy people want
much but get little, but those who work hard will prosper.
One of the mistakes individuals make when reading Scripture is
they treat all Scriptures a like. That is a sloppy approach to understanding
what the Word is stating. God never spoke in a vacuum; He chose the words to
use. He also used the various “styles” that the written word contains. When you
read a “narrative”
containing the words of the Lord and promises are made, you can take those
promises to the Bank! However many believers have failed to understand that a “Proverb” is
not in a narrative form, but in a poetical form. That does not negate the
Truths that are communicated, but we do need to remember that some proverbs are
statements that plainly point out a certain Truth, and they are absolute. Yet,
many proverbs that are written are not absolutes, they are principles of Truth
and usually end in the result stated. These two statements are an example of
that.
The principle of living long, healthy and prosperous is clearly
taught in the Scriptures. Yet it is not the doctrine taught in many churches
today. This Proverb brings forth the reality of what God teaches about health,
wealth and prosperity. In the quality of our life, God predominantly works from
the Sowing/Reaping perspective.
Not everyone who controls their tongue will live long, they may
contract a disease that cuts their life short, or for some reason unknown to
us, God takes them home at a young age. Martyrs would be a good example.
However, in most cases the principles in this passage turn out to be true!
Those that discipline their speech and their bodies have a much
greater chance of seeing “good” than tragedy! How many people have
experienced trouble for themselves or have caused trouble for others because
they refused to control their words? Those that discipline their mouths are the
ones that bring peace and do not bring trouble on themselves due to sloppy or
unmeasured words.
Again, there are lazy people that end up with a lot…simply
because a “rich” uncle died and left them a fortune! Still, this principle
remains true. Ordinarily, individuals that won’t work do not prosper. They miss the
opportunities that come their way because they just want to remain in “cruise”
mode. They desire to have much, but are unwilling to work for it. We see this
in all the schemes made to “get rich quick” like the “lotto” or
gambling what you need for what you want!
A disciplined person understands that hard work will bring rewards,
and is patient enough to continue to work to the
point where they have more than they need, and now can take the extra and
invest it in a way that it will bring forth more rewards. The interesting
reality is that the majority of people that never worked for their millions
lose and squander it. This is due to the fact they never possessed the
discipline that hard work brings in understanding what true wealth is and how
to be a proper steward of it. 
Disciplining our “flesh” is difficult because we live in a fallen
world, but the wisdom proverbs shares concerning both facts and principles
about living a disciplined life will bring quality and blessing to everyone
willing to walk that path!
The so what? How
difficult do you find it to control your tongue? What disciplines are you
practicing to control you emotions and appetites? Do you believe money will
make you happy? How? Do you know of anyone that is rich, yet is miserable? How
does hard work teach you how to handle riches? Do you believe God could make
you rich? If He has not, what does that say? Is money the only way a person can
prosper?
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