“A fool’s mouth is his ruin, And his lips are the snare of his soul.” Proverbs 18:7 AMP

Toda’s verse is a very important one. A Christian must understand that the words coming from their lips have been to build up or tear down! Our verse opens with the word translated “fool.” Let me remind you from our previous studies that the word fool means, “one who is insolent, stupid, or foolish; The state of being in complete lack of understanding demonstrated by rebellion; One who rebels against the established moral standard.” The word also refers to “one who is blind.” Jesus alluded to this fact in a discussion with the religious of His day.

“After Jesus called the crowd to Him, He said, “Listen and understand this: 11It is not what goes into the mouth of a man that defiles and dishonors him, but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles and dishonors him. 12Then the disciples came and said to Jesus, “Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard you say this?” 13He answered, “Every plant which My heavenly Father did not plant will be torn up by the roots. 14Leave them alone; they are blind guides [leading blind followers]. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit.”  Matthew 15:11-14 AMP

The words that we speak reflect our spiritual condition. The Scripture reminds that out the abundance of the heart to mouth speaks! As we release words into the air, we hear them with our ears and begin to process their meaning. Words like “it will never change,” or “it will never work” sink deep into our heart and bring discouragement. Words like “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,” or “I am more than an overcomer through Christ Jesus” bring hope and excitement to the darkest of circumstances. The word mouth here is the word meaning, “to speak or talk with the focus upon that which is said.” Do you see it? There is a “focus” on that which is said. The Bible tells us to,

“But as for you, beloved, remember the [prophetic] words spoken by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. 18They used to say to you, “In the last days there will be scoffers, following after their own ungodly passions.” 19These are the ones who are [agitators] causing divisions–worldly-minded [secular, unspiritual, carnal, merely sensual–unsaved], devoid of the Spirit. 20But you, beloved, build yourselves up on [the foundation of] your most holy faith [continually progress, rise like an edifice higher and higher], pray in the Holy Spirit, 21and keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously and looking forward to the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ [which will bring you] to eternal life.” Jude 1:17-21 AMP

Building yourself up means to know the Word of God and apply the faith God has given you to believe it! Many times, we with one statement quote the Scriptures and then in the next negate the very thing we just proclaimed as truth! I know that the extreme teaching on this is that we can speak things into existence that are not. That is foolishness! What we can do is speak things that are in existence and according to the Word of God! 

Our verse goes on to say that the fool speaks to injure others but ultimately destroys himself! The cause if his words are contention and strife ending in violence and death. The book of James reminds us,

See [by comparison] how great a forest is set on fire by a small spark! 6And the tongue is [in a sense] a fire, the very world of injustice and unrighteousness; the tongue is set among our members as that which contaminates the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life [the cycle of man’s existence], and is itself set on fire by hell (Gehenna). 7For every species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and sea creatures, is tamed and has been tamed by the human race. 8But no one can tame the human tongue; it is a restless evil [undisciplined, unstable], full of deadly poison. 9With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God. 10Out of the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. These things, my brothers, should not be this way [for we have a moral obligation to speak in a manner that reflects our fear of God and profound respect for His precepts]. 11Does a spring send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water?12Can a fig tree, my brothers, produce olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Nor can saltwater produce fresh.

James 3:5-12 AMP

The wise man’s words however end in life-giving power! Jesus told us the “rivers of living water” should be the mark of our speech! Have a blessed day, Pastor Ken