Proverbs 17:18-20 (ESV)
18 One who lacks sense gives a pledge
and puts up security in the presence of his neighbor.
19 Whoever loves transgression loves strife;
he who makes his door high seeks destruction.
20 A man of crooked heart does not discover good,
and one with a dishonest tongue falls into calamity.
Solomon warns against confusing generosity with wisdom. God calls us to help those in need, but it is foolish to guarantee another person’s debt or put up your own possessions as security for a loan. Such a person “lacks sense” because she willingly assumes responsibility for something she cannot control. If you choose to help someone financially, make it a gift you can freely give rather than a promise you may not be able to keep.
Not every love is a good love. Solomon describes the person who loves transgression and loves strife. Rather than pursuing peace, she is drawn to conflict, whether through heated words, needless arguments, or even physical violence. She finds it difficult to let an offense go and feels compelled to have the last word. Sin and strife are inseparable companions. Those who cherish one will soon embrace the other.
The image of a person who “makes his door high” portrays someone determined to exalt herself above her neighbors. Pride always seeks to elevate itself at the expense of others. Yet those who exalt themselves ultimately invite their own downfall. Jesus echoed this same truth when he said, “Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted” (Luke 14:11).
The final proverb reminds us that sinful words begin long before they reach our lips. A crooked heart eventually produces a dishonest tongue, and both lead to calamity. The tongue simply reveals what already fills the heart. That truth reaches far beyond obvious lies. It includes the subtle exaggerations, carefully chosen half truths, and self promoting words that so easily find their way into everyday conversations. Before we ever speak, God has already seen the heart from which those words will come.
Think back over the conversations you have had this week. Were your words completely truthful? Did they honor both God and the people around you, or were they influenced by pride or a desire to protect your reputation? Your words are a window into your heart. Don’t just ask God to change your speech. Ask him to transform your heart, because changed hearts produce changed words.