Proverbs 14:23 "In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury."
Have you ever heard the saying, "Talk is cheap"? There are
times when people "talk a good game," but their actions do not back
up the talk. Solomon certainly had a way with words and he did not mince
them. I never discount the fact that the Bible is the inspired Word of
God, but as I go through Proverbs this particular time, it seems that Solomon
experienced many of the things of which he wrote. It seems that maybe some of
the people around him were guilty of talking the talk, but not walking the
walk. We all have good intentions at times, but the profit of those
intentions comes through the action behind the words. If you remember,
our thoughts on this chapter began with verse 4, "Where no oxen are, the
crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox." This
particular chapter seems to be dealing with actions. In the New Testament
book of Titus, we are reminded of the work of Jesus Christ, "Who gave
himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto
himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." My thought for myself
today is that my words should back up my works and my works should back up my
words. If I say that I love Jesus, then my words and my actions should show
that in my life each day.