"Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge. The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way:... ... The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man shall be satisfied from himself." Proverbs 14:7,8,14.There are un-mingelable persons; you may have probably met some,and some may even be your friends at the present. They are unfriendly friends, for they will never help to bring you to the place of your destiny. If you seek to reach the place of goodness, fullness and satisfaction, then you must know the people to avoid. The un-mingleable, methinks, tops the chart.
A Way To Identify
How do we know these ones? Proverbs tells us that one major test is by the WORDS they utter. Afterall, it is out of the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaketh. No matter how white-washed a tomb may appear on the outside the stench of death must come out if its door is opened. The test of speech is sure reliable. Even if the one is guarded, have we not noticed that moments of emotion let loose the lids we put on our lips?
See verse 7. "Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge." When you meet someone who talks anyhow, someone who speaks always in a negative or pessimistic manner, someone who continually complains and murmurs, someone whose words do not glorify God or impact men, someone who is never serious but always joking; what do you do? Avoid their company. learn to key into what people say to know whether being in their presence is worth it.
Where Are You Now?
Be wise! For life is a journey and living is walking the path. It is wisdom to know the way. Knowing where you are coming from is good, making plans as per where you are heading to is better, but understanding where you ARE NOW is best. For the present is the knot that bridges the past and the future. Everybody has his own path in life so I ask, "Where are you now in your OWN journey?
Verse 8 says the wisdom of the prudent is tied to his understanding of HIS way, and NOT the way of another man. What of the fool, the unwise, the un-mingleable? He lacks the focus to bring him into sync with divine purpose, for he is not entirely purposeless. Scripture sums up his purpose as deceit. He deceives himself that all is well- he may be wealthy or powerful or even famous- but all isn't well for the reason for his existence isn't fulfilled, his gut vaccum isn't satisfied.
Oh! For he deceives himself. The worst form of deceit is self-deceit. It will take God to help such a man. And if you spend time in his company you'll end up being caught in the storm of his deceit. Every man has his own path, and the wise asketh the Lord to know and understand so that he shall be satisfied from himself (verse 14). There is this natural tendency in man to end up in having missed it in life, as such man easily inclines towards failure. Every man ought to be saved FROM himself. But ONLY the wise desire and seek to be saved from himself. There is the right way for each one but he that taketh a way that seemeth right unto himself is doomed to destruction (verse 12). This destruction I call un-destination.
Are You Going Well?
Would you rather bring death to your destiny? Verse 15 cautions us. The prudent looketh well to his going. He checks always to see if he is going well. He examines the words of those around him, he scrutinizes what he hears to know those whose company he should avoid. But what of the ignorant? He takes every word for granted. He hears and takes no cognisance because to him it doesn't matter. Is this message that you are reading a matter of importance? Ask yourself: 'Am i going well?' Prov.16v17 proclaims, "... ...he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul."
The Necessary Backslash
While you scrutinize the speech of other persons it is expedient that you keep tabs on your talk. You must do this if you want your company to be a blessing to other persons. Verse 23B says, "...the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury." This poverty is beyond physical riches or wealth, it involves as well the detoriation of purpose, the leaking away of whatever meaning you have already worked to attach to your life.
Watch the things you say. Think carefully before making promises. Don't be carried away that in the spur of the moment you tie yourself with a bond or vow you cannot redeem. Remember that the boat that isn't well anchored will go up with the crest of the rising wave but capsize when the wave crashes. Scripture says we shall give account of every idle word that proceeds out of our mouth.
"But now ye also put off all these:... ..., blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds." Col.3v8-9.Would you rather not heed Paul's advice? "Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man" Col.4v6. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. Eph.4v29.
Finally...
See then that ye WALK the journey of life circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise. Redeem the time for everty moment is valuable. The key to being not as the unwise is to understand what the will of the Lord is, and to walk your path. Stay away from the company of the un-mingleable. Then fulfill destiny. Then satisfy purpose. STAY away if you do not want to STRAY away!
