Proverbs 31:26
"She opens her mouth in [skillful and godly] wisdom, And the teachings of kindness is on her tongue [giving counsel and instruction]."
Years ago I read an article about a tribe in Africa that had suddenly been struck with illness. Medical professionals had been called in and were trying to find the source of the sickness nearly to no avail. After running numerous tests they were able to trace the infirmity back to their source of water which was a single well on the outskirts of the village. Upon testing and further investigation they found that a sheep had strayed from the flock, fallen into the well at some point, drowned, and it's decomposing body was contaminating the water which in turn caused the affliction in the village. Once the carcass was removed and the water allowed to flow freely, the condition subsided and all was fine.
As grotesque as this story seems, it mirrors the lives of Christians daily. We actually were created to be a wellspring of life. Proverbs 18:4 says, "The word's of a man's mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom a flowing brook." So is it possible for our spring to become contaminated? Absolutely! You see, much like our African shepherd who allowed one of his flock to wander- we are not always mindful of the gates in our own lives. A gate is a moveable object that either allows something in, something out, or blocks passage. In the life of a Christian, those gates are our eyes, ears, and mouth. What we allow in through our eyes and ears can either cleanse or contaminate us and what we allow out of our mouth...well...shows what's in our well. "A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart." (Luke 6:45)
Proverbs 4:23 says, "Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life." We must be diligent in minding our gates so that what flows from us will bring life and not death. Just like the water source from the village, the contamination affected the entire tribe. When you allow things into your well that taint it, it won't be long before it begins to affect those around you and more importantly your walk with the Lord.
Pornography is an example of allowing a contaminate into your well. I've never heard a testimony from those suffering addiction that said it happened immediately. It started little by little, each time they opened the gate of their eyes and before long it was poisoning their marriage and other relationships. And it may not be pornography per se, but scenes in movies or shows that portray sexual activities. It may not even be movies but books that contain explicit sexual activity or foul language. It may be the gossip circle at work. When you participate in gossip or backbiting then you have opened the gates to your ears and yes, those are contaminates as well. Anything that you set your attention to that glorifies adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, sedition, heresies, envies, murders, drunkenness, and revelings contaminates your well (Gal. 5:19-21). And it can come in the forms of music, movies, books, social media, and even friendships. As Christians we MUST be mindful of what we allow past our gates, James 3:11 says, "Can clean water and dirty water both flow from the same spring?" And Satan would love for you to think this is "legalism" but that could not be farther from the truth. When we have a true heart for our Lord and Savior, anything...ANYTHING...that has the ability to separate us from him becomes our enemy.
You may think what does this have to do with our Proverbs 31 woman, but the word says she opened her mouth in skill and godly wisdom and she is able to give counsel and instruction through kindness. So that tells me that her well was clean. What she was drawing from to speak and to minister to those around her came from an uncontaminated source. And if I want to operate in godly wisdom and to give counsel and instruction to those around me, then I need to make sure my well stays clean! Jesus said, "He who believes in me [who adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Me] as the Scripture has said, 'From his innermost being will flow continually rivers of living water (John 7:38).
We were meant to exude life!!
Ask yourself honestly- what flows from me? Love? Peace? Joy? Kindness? Goodness? Patience? Faithfulness? Gentleness? Self-Control? OR... Frustration? Anger? Fear? Jealousy? Hatred? Lust? Strife? Lies? Slander?
Should you honestly pray and ask the Lord to reveal areas in your life that have not been diligently guarded, God is faithful to forgive and to restore and to help you close the gates that the enemy so desires to remain open. Remember- unguarded gates give the enemy access to your life! Would you open your front door and allow him in? Certainly not!! Then do not give him access to your spirit either! Remember- You were created to be a wellspring of life!
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