“If you have been a fool by being proud or plotting evil, cover your mouth in shame. As the beating of cream yields butter and striking the nose causes bleeding, so stirring up anger causes quarrels.” Pro 30:32-33 NLT

Pride, anger, and plotting evil are all very foolish endeavors.  They may go a while without any kind of retaliating incident, but they are the kind of actions that store up trouble in the end.  That is what this proverb warns us about today.


There is no mincing words at the beginning of this proverb.  We are told that things like exalting ourselves or plotting evil are “foolish” things to do.  In fact, this proverb tries to warn us about the consequences of these actions.  This is done in the classic “if/then” fashion that we are used to seeing in the book of Proverbs.  Therefore, we are being warned that if we engage in pride or plotting evil – bad things are on the horizon for us. 

The actions we are warned against here are twofold.  First, we have the sin of exalting ourselves.  God values humility – and opposes the proud and those who would exalt themselves in the eyes of others.   The biblical method of recognition is to let another praise us – and not our own lips.  To speak in praise of self – is to speak foolish words of pride that, according to Scripture, goes before a fall.  The second action we are warned against is that of plotting evil against another.  We all know of the end of those who do this.  Either they are caught in the process and shamed – or – they succeed in their plotting, and it only causes them to become further corrupt.  Whichever way this goes it is a foolish endeavor that often takes the lives of the ones who give themselves to such overt evil.

What God warns against though is that these things in and of themselves cause a churning of anger that will end in further strife.  Two examples are given to remind us of this.  The first is the churning of butter.  When milk is put into a churn it is a liquid.  But after you spend time churning that butter repeatedly – it eventually turns to butter.  The second example is that of pressing someone’s nose.  The idea here is that of not just pressing down on a nose – but twisting it violently.  This, we are told, will produce blood.  Both things are truths that are undeniable.  You do these things – and the results are destined to follow. 

God promises that these kinds of actions are going to produce strife.  They will reveal the one guilty of them is a fool – and eventually their lives are going to be surrounded by problems that come from anger being churned up in themselves and others.  Jesus promised blessing, not the proud and self-exalting ones, but rather to peacemakers – and to those who humble themselves in the sight of God.  The lives that seek peace and the blessing and exalting of others will have far more peace and joy than the fools who only think of themselves.

 

This week, don’t be a fool, seek peace

 

In His Hands,

 

John

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