Thursday morning, January 28, 2021.
8 AM.
I begin my day reading in Proverbs chapter 11. I have been in this chapter for two weeks.
I am in search of wisdom. I do not have enough.
This wisdom quest began in me in 1970. Fifty years ago, almost exactly to this date, I became a follower of Jesus.
I changed my university major from music theory to philosophy.
Philo-sophy. Literally, "the love of wisdom."
Flourishing people are wisdom collectors.
Proverbs 11:12 instructs:
Whoever derides their neighbor has no sense,
but the one who has understanding holds their tongue.
Old Testament scholar John Walton comments:
"Proverbs frequently teaches that foolish speech has dire consequences and inevitably results in disorder. In some proverbs, as here, the nature of the speech is not specified, but on other occasions it is described as lying, gossip, slander, rumor and other socially destructive behaviors. Egyptian sages also recognized the connection between evil speech and negative results. A good example is from Any: “A man may be ruined by his tongue, Beware and you will do well.”" (NIV, Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible)
This verse contains enough wisdom for me today.
I write it on a 3X5 card, and slip it in my pocket.
