Proverbs 14:24-25 (ESV)
23 In all toil there is profit,
but mere talk tends only to poverty.
24 The crown of the wise is their wealth,
but the folly of fools brings folly.
25 A truthful witness saves lives,
but one who breathes out lies is deceitful.
Those willing to work hard will prosper. But those content to ramble on about what they are “going to do” end up with nothing. One of the rewards of diligence is wealth. The fool ignores wisdom and truth, so she ends up living with the consequences of her unwise decisions. The righteous person is also truthful. She refuses to bear false testimony against another and ends up saving the accused from wrongful rejection or punishment. Those who spin the truth, communicating deceptive information, end up ruining the reputation of the innocent. What about you? When you recount an incident about someone you don’t like, do you include or omit details to make her look worse than she actually is? If so, stop it and repent today. We will all be accountable for the harm and hurt we have brought upon others through our deceitful words.