Stirring Up Trouble

Proverbs 26:13-28

“The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.” (Proverbs 26:13)

The lazy man constantly invents excuses why he cannot do what he needs to do.  Sometimes their excuses are pretty farfetched and unlikely, based solely on rumor or imagination.

“As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed.  The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom; it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth.” (Proverbs 26:14-15)

A wheel turns on it axle and moves from place to place.  A door just swings back and forth on its hinges and goes no place.  Successful people go to bed for a while then get up and go do something.  Lazy ones just turn over in bed and go back to sleep.   They resent even having to feed themselves or do anything for themselves. 

“The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason.” (Proverbs 26:16)

The lazy man thinks he is smarter than seven men who can figure things out because he has figured out how to get other people to do it for him.    He thinks they are stupid for working so hard. 

“He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.” (Proverbs 26:17)

A person who gets involved in other people’s fights, taking sides or stirring things up is like a person who keeps pulling a dog’s ears.  The dog begins to hate him and sooner or later it will try to bite him. 

“As a mad man who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death, So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am not I in sport?” (Proverbs 26:18-19)

An insane person, who randomly shoots in every direction and throws burning objects into the brush.  Sooner or later he will hit somebody or set things on fire.  A person who cheats his neighbors and thinks it is funny is like the insane person.  Sooner or later he will make people mad and they will turn on him.

“Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.  “As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife.” (Proverbs 26:20-21)

Just as a fire goes out when it runs out of fuel, a conflict ends when there is no one adding fuel to it.  If you can stop the gossip most fight s will end by themselves.   A person who is looking for a fight is like adding wood to fire or raking the coals closer together.  It almost guarantees the conflict will flare up.  His attitude is certain to rub people the wrong way.

“The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.  Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross.  He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him; When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart.  Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be showed before the whole congregation.” (Proverbs 26:22-26)

Gossip and rumors can hurt a person very deeply.  The story tellers are like broken piece of pottery dipped in the waste products from refining silver.  Though they look like something important they are really worthless.  A person who spreads rumors hates the people he talks about, deliberately trying to deceive others about them.  He cannot be trusted because his attitude is wicked.  Sooner or later the truth will come out publicly. 

“Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him.” (Proverbs 26:27)

Efforts to entrap or hurt others can backfire and hurt the person who does them instead. 

“A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.” (Proverbs 26:28)

A person who lies about things hates the people who are harmed by the lies.  A person who tells lies to make you feel good about yourself will cause you to be destroyed.