Daily Devotional | Words Matter

“You are the worst Pop ever!” said my son. And then, just a few days later, “Thank you so much for cooking me my favorite dinner, Pop. You really are the best!” If you’re a parent, maybe you’ve experienced something similar. (And to be frank, I really hope I’m not alone!) Kids say foolish things when they’re upset with their parents. I did it, for sure, and that’s why I can smile at my son and tell him I love him even when he says I’m the worst.

Ecclesiastes 10 is full of proverbs that, when meditated upon and rightly applied to our lives, will help us live in a way that please our heavenly Father. For example, 10:12 reminds us that our words have enormous consequences: “Words from the mouth of the wise are gracious, but fools are consumed by their own lips.”

In verse 10 we read that “if the ax is dull and its edge unsharpened, more strength is needed, but skill will bring success.” This reminds us that proper planning and care for our tools—both physical and mental—is key to performing a job well and efficiently. Consider how this might apply to our Bible study. Are we “dull” and “unsharpened” when it comes to reading God’s Word? Do we need more practice?

The Teacher warns, “Whoever digs a pit may fall into it,” warning about the importance of working safely. Similarly, 10:9 tells us that quarrying stones and splitting logs is dangerous business. These proverbs are literally true, of course, but they also convey a deeper meaning. We must take care with how we treat the people around us, because the things we do—or try to do—to others may very well come back upon us. As Jesus reminds us, “Do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets” (Matt. 7:12).

Go Deeper

Think specifically about verse 12. Have you spoken words that have damaged a relationship? How can you seek reconciliation today?

Pray with Us: Father in heaven, may our words heal and not hurt, may we remember the warning of Ecclesiastes 10:12 not to be, like fools, consumed by our own lips. May we seek forgiveness and reconciliation with others.

BY Dr. Russell L. Meek

Russell Meek teaches Old Testament and Hebrew at Moody Theological Seminary. He writes a regular column on understanding and applying the Old Testament at Fathom Magazine, and his books include Ecclesiastes and the Search for Meaning in an Upside-Down World and the co-authored Book-by-Book Guide to Biblical Hebrew Vocabulary. Russ, his wife, and their three sons live in northern Idaho.