Daily Devotional For Wednesday, February 21, 2024

Everyone I know has struggled at some time in their life to control their tongue. Look at Proverbs 20:17, “Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man, but afterward his mouth will be full of gravel” (ESV). The Hebrew word translates as “deceit” is [שׁקר, shaqer] and it means “by fraud.” The Hebrew literally reads “bread that deceives” does not satisfy. It leaves a bad taste of disappointment. In other words, anything gained by fraud behavior provides deceptive nourishment.  When the deceit is detected and the deceiver must face the music, the food that once tasted so sweet is now like gravel filling his mouth.

The Hebrew word translated as “sweet” is [עֵרֶב, areb]. John A Kitchen, in his commentary, Proverbs:A Mentor Commentary, writes this: “The first line describes the immediate pleasure of sin; the second contrasts it with the negative long-term consequences. The immediate lure of sin is that it looks ‘sweet.’ ‘Stolen water is sweet; And bread eaten in secret is pleasant’ (Prov. 9:17)” — (pp. 449-450). The “bread” mentioned here is not real bread, but refers to the outcome of sin. Whatever it is, it fails to fulfill what it promises. So true is sin.

This is what Proverbs 10:2 says, “Treasures gained by wickedness do not profit, but righteousness delivers from death” (ESV). The New Living Translation puts it this way: “Tainted wealth has no lasting value, but right living can save your life.” Proverbs 20:17 tells the reader that we do well to look behind the immediate promise of temptation and study carefully the long-term consequences of our choices and actions. All that promises sweetness is not sweet and that which immediately denies the senses may, ultimately, prove to be most satisfying. We even say in our own culture, “Not everything that glitters is gold.” 

Again, how typically does someone deceive? With their tongue — their words. We all have been told something that we thought was truthful only to discover later, it was a lie, a fraud, or a scandal. Today, on the Internet, scammers are stealing millions from unsuspecting people by pretending that some account they have is in default or about to be terminated. Just click this link, follow the instructions, and all will be well. The email looks legit. It has the company logo, the company info, but it is all fraud to get your credit card number or bank account and empty it in some place many times overseas — meaning in a place you can never get your money back. 

Daniel Akst writes this: “Phishing is a word for a type of online scamming and this type of activity is growing. The FBI reports over 300,000 complaints and over 50 million dollars in phishing losses in 2022. Phishing occurs when someone sends you a bogus communication, usually by email or text message, disguised as a missive from a legitimate source, such as a bank or government agency. Usually the sender is angling for information, a credit card number or a transfer of funds. Sometimes there is an attachment containing malware, or a link where you can go to log in—which is to say, to have your password stolen. Phishing grows and grows, demanding continual vigilance; billions of phishing emails are sent every day, some narrowly targeted and others broadcast widely. You have no doubt seen the con artists’ bait dangling in your inbox” (Daniel Akst, “How Much Do You Know About Phishing? Take Our Quiz,” The Wall Street Journal (6-7-23). The direct link is: https://www.preachingtoday.com/illustrations/2023/november/phishing-and-temptation.html.

The point of this Proverb is this: Charlatans may not be easily uncovered, but they ultimately come to ruin. What they thought would be sweet, in the end, will be like chewing on gravel. This is why Proverbs 20:17 is connected to Proverbs 20:16, “Take a man's garment when he has put up security for a stranger, and hold it in pledge when he puts up security for foreigners” (ESV) as well as Proverbs 20:19, “Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets; therefore do not associate with a simple babbler” (ESV). 

This is why we all have to be very careful and diligent. Even the best, informed, and scrutinizing Christians can be tricked into a scam or fraud. Read this below about Christian Financial Consultant Dave Ramsey:

“Financial consultant and popular radio host Dave Ramsey is being sued by a group of former listeners over his role in promoting a company alleged to have defrauded customers of millions of dollars.

The class-action lawsuit claims that Ramsey’s Lampo Group, earned about $30 million from 2015 to 2021 endorsing Timeshare Exit Team. This Kirkland, Washington company received over $200 million in revenue by promising to relieve clients of their costly financial obligations from time share agreements.

In 2021, Timeshare Exit Team paid $2.61 million as part of a settlement with the attorney general of the state of Washington over what it claims were deceptive business practices. This included advising clients to stop paying timeshare fees and issuing fake property deeds in an attempt to convince clients they were free of their obligations. The complaint reads, “When customers finally discovered the schemes and demanded their refunds, [Timeshare Exit Team founder] Reed Hein fabricated excuses not to honor the promises or stopped returning their calls.”

The lawsuit seeks $150 million in damages, claiming that the actions of Ramsey Solutions, Timeshare Exit Team, and Happy Hour Media Group, conspired to commit “negligent malrepresentation” and “unjust enrichment” in violation of the Washington Consumer Protection Act.

Ramsey has repeatedly denied wrongdoing, but plaintiffs in the suit claim that Ramsey should have known better. The lawsuit reads: Reed Hein made many claims that any competent financial advisor with Dave Ramsey’s knowledge and skill would know to be false, and it engaged in many activities Dave Ramsey would have known to be illegal. Ramsey never returned any of the tens of millions of dollars Reed Hein and Happy Hour Media Group paid him from his own listeners’ hard-earned money. Instead, Ramsey has chosen to profit from his listeners’ money” (From: Bob Smietana, “Dave Ramsey sued for $150 million by former fans who followed his timeshare exit advice,” Religious News Service (6-1-23). Here is the direct link: https://www.preachingtoday.com/illustrations/2023/july/popular-finance-consultant-sued-for-scam.html.

Profits gained by deception seem like a special delicacy at first. The swindler feels that he has received more than he invested and thinks himself clever. Look what Proverbs 9:17 says about this: “Stolen water is sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant” (ESV). 

Michael V. Fox in this commentary, The Anchor Yale Bible, “Proverbs 1-9,” Vol. 18a, p. 302, writes this: “Folly is telling the truth, but her message has two faces. The wise recognize her words as an unintended warning to be wary of sweet pleasures, for the sweetness is just a coating for their poison. The foolish hear the same words as encouragement to taste illegitimate pleasures, for these will prove sweet . . . They succeed because they craftily tell the truth in deceptive ways.”

This is why Jesus reminds of this with His words in Matthew 10:16, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves” (ESV). Do you remember the fraud and deceit of PTL by Jim & Tammy Faye Baker. They offered to their viewers their own version of a Christian Disneyland that was a a 2300-acre theme park visited by six million people a year, and millions of adoring fans.

"Also promised was Heritage USA -- PTL routinely commingled its funds, according to PTL officials. Over the last few years, PTL raised nearly $120 million by selling time-share "partnerships" in two luxury hotel projects, touting the deals on the ministry TV show as a good "investment." A $1,000 "partnership," for example, entitled contributors to three free nights and four free days in the hotels every year for life -- and would be worth "almost $20,000" in 40 years, according to PTL literature” (see this link: https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/opinions/1987/06/21/ptls-missing-millions/553aa246-42b9-49bd-954e-0c3b85349514/.).

How did the Bakers do this? Through their tongues. 1 Peter 3:9 reminds all of us this: “For the one who wants to love life and to see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit” (ESV). Proverbs 10:19 says this: “Too much talk leads to sin. Be sensible and keep your mouth shut” (NLT). It is like my mother always taught me this: “If you can’t say anything nice, then don’t say anything at all.”

Questions To Consider

1. When has someone tricked you with their deceitful tongue? What happened and what were the results?
2. When have you tricked someone with your own deceitful tongue? What happened and what were the results?
3. Would you say you are always honest? You always tell the truth or do you ever shade the truth to your advantage? Why?
4. Charlatans will have their day before God and so will we if we are not careful with our tongues. So what does that tell you?
5. Proverbs 15:27 says this: “The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things” (ESV). Does this describe you, especially when you are angry? Why or why not?
6. Jesus says this in Matthew 12:37, "For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned” (ESV). What does this verse say to you about your tongue and your words? Why?
7. What is one thing you could start doing today to get your tongue to bring glory to God?

Scripture To Meditate On: Matthew 15:11, Jesus said,”It is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person” (ESV).

Prayer To Pray: “Dear Jesus, I am not always honest with my words. I sometimes paint things better than they are and sometimes I paint things worse than they are. I can be judgmental and condemning of others with my words while ignoring and even rationalizing my own sinful words and actions. I have been deceitful to others with my words in the past. I no longer want to be that kind of person. I do not want on Judgment Day for my words to condemn me, but justify me. I want my words to bring You glory. Help me Jesus to be a person of integrity with my words. Help me to be uplifting, encouraging and tactfully truthful with my words. I love You Jesus. In Jesus’ name, Amen!”

I love you Southside Pastor Kelly