Learn to Discern So you Won't Get Burned

A sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven people who answer discreetly….Like a coating of silver dross on earthenware are fervent lips with an evil heart. Enemies disguise themselves with their lips, but in their hearts they harbor deceit. Though their speech is charming, do not believe them, for seven abominations fill their hearts. Their malice may be concealed by deception, but their wickedness will be exposed in the assembly. Proverbs 26:16, 23-26 (New International Version, NIV)

These verses serve as is a message to us that we must learn to discern. Don’t just look with your natural eyes, but learn to see by the Holy Spirit to know what a person is really like. If we are around people for any length of time, we can know them by their fruit; what their life produces. However, if we’re around someone just a short time, we can see who they really are by the Holy Spirit, and that can protect us from harm.

Verse 16 in this passage speaks of the sluggard, or lazy people. They think are wiser than seven people who answer discreetly. As we’ve mentioned in other posts, Biblically-speaking, seven represents completion, perfection, and rest. In this verse, we see a reversal of this. The lazy person has missed the point that God wants to bring his laziness to an end so he can experience true rest. A lazy person typically does not use discernment, but takes the easy way and accepts people at face value.

The rest of this passage tells us that evil people can hide their true intentions with their words, like a glaze that covers a vessel hides what it looks like underneath. Lips that sound good may hide an evil heart for a time. We can be harmed by such people or we can be wise to them through discernment. Enemies can hide who they are with their lips, but in their hearts, they harbor deceit. We must learn to stay alert. Not everyone who is nice to us is actually nice. Listen to God for inside information. As we pray and spend time in God’s Word, we become sensitive to Him and we can know things by the Holy Spirit. He will tell us whether to get involved with a person or not.

They may have charming speech, but don’t believe them. According to Proverbs 31:30, charm is deceptive and disguises who someone really is. We need the Lord’s help to see a person’s true character.. The wicked may look and sound good on the surface, but seven abominations fill their hearts.

There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community. Proverbs 6:16-19 (New International Version, NIV)

In our passage from Proverbs 26, we also see that malice, the intent to hurt or harm, can be hidden by deception, but God will expose it. It is important to rely on discernment and avoid harm from deceptive, wicked people. Christian rock and roll pioneer Larry Norman wrote about this in one of his songs:

“You got to watch who you know. Some folks smile and seem all right. Later you find out they’re an angel of light… Try to love everybody but don’t be blind. Those kind of people will mess up your mind.”

Be aware, be awake, and be warned. So you don’t get burned, let God help you to discern.