The Fruit of Our Mouths and Work of Our Hands
How Divine Discipline Leads to Life
Aaron Lee | April 28, 2024 | FCBCW Children’s Worship | Proverbs 12
Introduction
Proverbs is a book of wisdom. It’s a book about living wisely. Proverbs 12 deals with the general themes we’ve seen before: the righteous versus the wicked, the wise versus the foolish. What’s specific in this chapter is the idea of being disciplined – being trained, being corrected.
You might have experienced being disciplined or trained or corrected by a sports coach or a music teacher. Our parents discipline us as well. They discipline us, train us, correct us because they want us to succeed in life. The Bible calls this a secure and immovable life. This is in contrast to an uncertain, unstable life. You can think of it as having a secure life versus a shaky life. Listening to correction and receiving discipline, training, and instruction results in a rewarding life. You will be satisfied with the security in your life.
Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but one who hates correction is stupid. One who is good obtains favor from the Lord, but he condemns a person who schemes. No one can be made secure by wickedness, but the root of the righteous is immovable. (Proverbs 12:1-3)
There are two broad areas that are covered in our text today: our words and our works. Our words are the speech that comes out of our mouths, and our works are what we do with our hands – how we labor and are productive. We’ll see how disciplining our words and our works are rewarded.
A person will be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth, and the work of a person’s hands will reward him. (Proverbs 12:14)
1. Be disciplined with your words
The first area to exercise discipline is with your words.
There is one who speaks rashly, like a piercing sword; but the tongue of the wise brings healing. (Proverbs 12:18)
This verse first presents someone who is undisciplined with their words. They are said to speak rashly, like a piercing sword. Imagine having a splinter, and instead of being careful to take it out you just pick at it without paying attention, and it causes more damage. This is what it’s like to speak like a piercing sword. Maybe you’ve experienced this. Maybe you’ve been hurt or angry, and you just start speaking words quickly as if to cut people down. It’s like you’re stabbing them with a sword. You’ll say things like “you always do this” or “you never think about this.” There’s no room for nuance. There’s no careful consideration. You might even say words you don’t mean, like “I don’t like you” or “I hate you.” We need to watch our words.
The verse then goes on to talk about the tongue of someone who is wise, and this person brings healing. Imagine having a splinter, and we use the same tool to take it out but we are careful with it. The same tool used well can still bring healing. This is speech that is slow and steady – not wanting to hurt but to heal. This doesn’t mean you only have to say nice things. But there is a way to be sensitive with your speech. When someone hurts you or you get mad, there is a way to speak in a loving way while still letting others know how you feel. Your words can be helpful to others – even making them happy. Proverbs 12:25 says: Anxiety in a person’s heart weighs it down, but a good word cheers it up.
When we think of words, it’s true that we’re primarily thinking about what comes out of our mouths. But the book of Proverbs also looks at the words we say in our minds. These are our thoughts. Wise and righteous people don’t just know what to say – but they know how to think. Proverbs 12:5 says: The thoughts of the righteous are just, but guidance from the wicked is deceitful.
How can you be disciplined in your words? We can be careful and sensitive, knowing that our words have the ability to hurt or to heal. You can choose not to use bad words, or make promises that you cannot keep. You can choose not to lie, and instead tell the truth. You can look at the words of the Bible, and memorize them and speak them like we do in AWANA.
Be disciplined with your words not to hurt, but to heal and make happy.
2. Be disciplined in your work
The second area to exercise discipline is in your work.
The one who works his land will have plenty of food, but whoever chases fantasies lacks sense. (Proverbs 12:11)
This verse begins with someone who is disciplined. Someone who works his land is someone like a farmer. Farming is hard work. It takes patience and time. It takes knowledge and skill. Doing this type of hard work is rewarding – you’ll have plenty of food.
The verse goes on to talk about someone who chases fantasies – and this person lacks sense. Someone who chases fantasies doesn’t want to do the hard work. It gives the picture of someone who doesn’t use their time wisely, or who lives in an imaginary world, or someone who thinks that things can come quickly and easily – or maybe things will be easy just by being lucky. This type of person will not work on their own. This type of person is lazy, and because they do not do the work themselves, they will find that someone else will force them to work even harder. Proverbs 12:24 says: The diligent hand will rule, but laziness will lead to forced labor. Being diligent means to be careful, persistent, and to give it effort. Not lazy, but diligent.
The diligent person knows the value of hard work. And he also knows the value of what he has. The wise person does not just work hard and then waste it all away – but the wise person works hard and knows how to use it well. Some people have a lot of money, a lot of resources, or a lot of time, or a lot of talent – but they do not value it. They waste it. Proverbs 12:27 says: A lazy hunter doesn’t roast his game, but to a diligent person, his wealth is precious.
How can you be disciplined in your work? You can work well with the time that you have and not waste it – such as the time you have to do your homework, or to practice piano, or to read your Bible and pray. You can choose not to waste your time playing too many video games or watching TV, and instead see how you can help around the house or spend time with your family. You can be ready to come to church, preparing your hearts to worship God.
Be disciplined in your work not to waste its rewards, but to use them well.
Gospel
The interesting thing about Proverbs is that some of them can be applied to people who are not Christians, and they will still help them. For instance, people in the world can be disciplined in their words, and it will still help them in life. People in the world can be disciplined in their work, and they will find it beneficial. Those who are good with their words and their work will generally live secure and steady lives.
But there is a verse in this chapter, the last verse in this chapter, that reminds us about a very important truth: Being good with your words and work and living a secure and steady life will still end in death and will not get you into Heaven. There is a certain righteousness, a certain right way of living, that will lead you down the path where death actually leads to life and will get you into Heaven with God:
There is life in the path of righteousness, and in its path there is no death. (Proverbs 12:28)
This type of righteousness is something we cannot do ourselves. We need the righteousness of Jesus, the Son of God who lived a perfect life. He spoke perfectly with his words and thoughts, and he worked perfectly with diligence and understanding the value of his work.
Admit you are a sinner, believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross for your sins, and confess him as the resurrected Lord over your life. You will be saved. You will be adopted into God’s family. You can follow him here on earth and you will follow him into Heaven, where Jesus will be the King over all your money and time. With the power of the Holy Spirit, you are enabled to live a life of wisdom that follows in Christ’s footsteps.
Big Idea
Those who are disciplined in their words and their work will be satisfied and rewarded in this life. Those who are disciplined by the Lord will be satisfied and rewarded with eternal life.
Conclusion
I talked about being disciplined or trained or corrected by our coaches, teachers, and parents. But there is a type of discipline that only comes from the Lord. When the Lord disciplines us, when we are corrected by his word, when we train in righteousness — we can live a life that please God now, and we can be sure that we will live with him forever in Heaven:
They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. (Hebrews 12:10)