Read chapter in full: www.biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Proverbs+017
Proverbs 17 (ESV)
1 Better is a dry morsel with quiet
than a house full of feasting with strife…
9 Whoever covers an offense seeks love,
but he who repeats a matter separates close friends…
14 The beginning of strife is like letting out water,
so quit before the quarrel breaks out…
17 A friend loves at all times,
and a brother is born for adversity…
19 Whoever loves transgression loves strife;
he who makes his door high seeks destruction…
27 Whoever restrains his words has knowledge,
and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.
28 Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise;
when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.
REFLECTION:
These verses admonish us not to dispute, and the secret to calm disputes is to love each other. In love, we are willing to forgive those who have offended us. When arguing with others with resentment, it is easy for people to single out all the other’s mistakes, but love will silence one’s mouth and bear the other’s faults patiently. Therefore, we must not count the evil of people when we get along with people, and strive to follow the teachings God gave us in 1 Corinthians 13. Although this is not easy to do, we must do our best. Also focus the discussion on the matter, and don’t include irrelevant things or past issues into the argument. Since we want to grow into the likeness of Christ, we should use God’s power to forgive people for their past sins. In addition, we should also understand the benefits of “silence is gold”: if there is nothing worth talking about or useless in saying, silence is the best practice. In silence, you will pay more attention to listening and learning, and you will be wiser to distinguish right from wrong and discern everything.
PRAYER:
Pray for God to increase your mental strength so that you can be more patient and tolerant. When you get along with others, you will see more of the strengths of others instead of focusing on their faults. Pray that God will give you the wisdom to speak appropriately, and you can speak more encouraging and edifying words that are like apples of gold in a setting of silver, and you can also understand when to remain silent to benefit others.
HYMN:
Speak, O Lord: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubRlJj8xkds&ab_channel=TroyWalliser
