Text: Prov 10:8-11 ESV 8 The wise of heart will receive commandments, but a babbling fool will come to ruin. 9 Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out. 10 Whoever winks the eye causes trouble, and a babbling fool will come to ruin. 11 The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence. - Prov 10:8-11 ESV DO WALK IN INTEGRITY The earnest seeker of God’s wisdom is teachable. He recognizes that he has not arrived the state of knowing everything. It is the posture of Mary sitting at the feet of Jesus to receive His words. Did not James instruct us to "be quick to hear, slow to speak"?[Jas 1:19] The fact that we have two ears but only one mouth ought to remind us to heed James's instruction to listen more than talk. Conversely, the ‘babbling fool’ is unteachable. He’s a busy talker, not a learner. As a result of his unwillingness to accept godly commandments, the "scoffer" (Prov 3:34) will come to a deplorable end of his life. The wise person has a pure heart. He walks with integrity. An honest and sincere life doesn't run the risk of being caught in lies or deceit, does he? No one can legitimately build a valid case against him. As a blameless person, he is "secured" in life. Such integrity should also characterised the Christian, should it not? Paul admonishes the Philippian believers, "Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world" (Phi 2:14–15). On the other hand, Solomon also points out that he who conducts himself dishonestly and commits evil will be eventually discovered. How true is what Sir Walter Scott stated, that is, "Oh, what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive!" These arrogant babblers have the same fate to the eye winkers.[v.10] Eye winking has a reference to secret signs and hidden messages (see Prov 6:13). In this context, it means a signal to evil companions to join in deceitful acts and crime. In Psalm 35:19 David prayed: "Let not those rejoice over me who are wrongfully my foes, and let not those wink the eye who hate me without cause." The righteous person, however, has speech like a fountain of life. Out of the abundance of their purified hearts will come edifying words. Their words are clean and invigorating. They edify those who hear them. Unlike the speech of the righteous, the speech of the wicked corrupts. The wicked commit violent acts and use deceptive words to cover their evil deeds (Prov 4:14–17; 10:6). Let’s ponder for a moment. Either we speak edifying words or hurting words. It depends upon the state of our hearts. A tree, as our hearts are, could not ear good and bad tree simultaneously. Jesus is the truth. His heart is pure. Thus, Jesus said, "The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life" (John 6:63). And, if we claim as followers of Jesus, we should carefully guard our speech and employ words that are gracious and seasoned with salt (Col 4:6). We should shun malice, deceit, and slander (1 Peter 2:1). We should not allow any corrupt talk to come out of their mouths, "but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear" (Eph 4:29). ------------------------- Visit and FOLLOW Gospel Light Filipino on YouTube, Facebook and Instagram