The Devil's Puppets

July 26, 2013

The devil’s puppets:  Busybodies, flatterers, lazy people

Proverbs 26 breaks down into three sections:

(1st section) verses 1-12 shows us how to relate to fools

(2nd section) verses 13-16 shows us how to relate to sluggards

(3rd section) verses 17-28 shows us how to relate to gossipers

Proverbs 26:17, 28, 16

New King James Version (NKJV)

17 He who passes by and meddles in a quarrel not his own

Is like one who takes a dog by the ears.  (Keyword: Mind your own business)

28 A lying tongue hates those who are crushed by it,

And a flattering mouth works ruin.  (Keyword: Flattery is of the devil)

16 The lazy man is wiser in his own eyes

Than seven men who can answer sensibly. (Keyword: The lazy man thinks he is smart.)

Commentary:  

God has appointed certain people with power and authority to maintain peace, like the police.  And only these people have the power to meddle.  We are to mind our own business when it comes to other people’s affairs.  To stick our nose where it doesn’t belong is to ask for trouble. That is a foolish thing to do.   Busybodies are notorious for sticking their noses in other people’s business.  They seem to have too much idle time on their hands, so they create drama.  

A wise person will observe and listen to what is going on around him.  He will keep quiet and not react hastily.  He will discern every situation and transcend it into the kingdom realm.  A fool, on the other hand, is quick to vent his unsolicited opinions and comments.  He usually thinks that he knows exactly what is going on and has an answer for everything.  Dumb, dumb, dumb !!  

May we be forewarn by verse 17 to mind our own business.

Verse 28 states that flattery works ruin.  This is because the person who flatters you does it for his own selfish gain.  He wants to get on your good side.   A person who pays you a genuine compliment does so to edify you.    And we must discern the spirit behind the compliments that we receive.  Prideful people who are full of themselves will respond to the praise of man by basketing in the glory.  They cannot get enough of it.  And they eat it up every time.  A wise and humble man will respond to the praise of man  by deflecting the glory back to God.  He will say things like “praise the Lord” instead of sitting there and basketing in the glory and agreeing with the other people that he is something wonderful to behold.  

Verse 16 talks about the lazy man who is wiser in his own eyes than seven who can answer sensibly.  That means, he thinks that he is smarter than everyone in the room.  He justifies all of his behaviors and he cannot be taught.  In his mind, he knows everything.  Beware of people who has an excuse for everything.  

Conclusion:   We need to discern and be wise in our dealings with fools, lazy people and gossipers.  Never become close friends with them.  If so, you are asking for trouble.  

Poem:

Beware of those who behave as fools

Who exists on this earth without rules

And the sluggards who thinks that he is wise

and will justify everything in his eyes

Stay far away from the gossipers

They are only mere trouble makers

These are all puppets in the devil’s hands

for they operate in the carnal man

Byword: When you are lazy, when you meddle in other people’s business, when you flatter with your mouth,  you are being used by the devil because all of these ways are of the flesh, not of God.  

Aldwin and Wendy Naruse

The Body of Christ Jesus Fellowship

Makaha, HI USA