Friday!

Proverbs!

Don't envy evil people or desire their company. For their hearts plot violence, and their words always stir up trouble.

Proverbs 24:1-2 NLT

We don't always know what's in someone's heart, but we do hear their words.

Or read them.

Or see them on Instagram or Tiktok or somewhere...words that stir up trouble.

The word "violence" here is the Hebrew word "shod" (pronounced shode)

Definition: violence, havoc, devastation, ruin.

It's way broader than physical violence becuase it's capturing the intentions of the heart, a heart that takes, doesn't care about others.

This proverb doesn't tell us to avoid people, but not to be envious of them, not to want to be with them. And here is Proverbs again asking me to inspect my heart. 

To check in on my desires. 

To have a look at what or who I am envious of. 

To have a look at why I would want to be with that person. 

And that heart inspection will help me to make good boundaries and choices about who to let in, and who to keep out. 

There's times when we need help with that, both understanding the heart of others, and at times our own heart, and it's OK to ask your trustworthy people in, and most importantly, ask the Holy Spirit for his prompting.

#proverbs

#wisdom

#itsaheartthing