Bridges on Proverbs 14:23
 
 
Charles Bridges on Proverbs 14:23
 
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23.  In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.
 
This is not universally true. What profit is in the labour of sin (Romans 6:21), or of ill-timed work? Fruitful also is the talk of teaching lips. (Chapter 10:21. 15:7.) But the contrast is intended between what is solid on the one hand and what is shadowy on the other, between lawful, well-directed labour, and empty talk. “Bread eaten in the sweat of the face” is the profit of bodily labour. (Genesis 3:19.) But the idler is condemned to penury upon the talk of his lips. (Chapter 20:4; 21:25.) Enlargement of mind is also the profit of mental labour. (Ecclesiastes 12:9, 10.) But the “prating fool” (Chapter 10:8) ‘cuts himself off from all advantage, except that of being entertained by his own talk; his business in coming into company not being at all to be informed, to hear, to listen, but to display himself, and to talk without any design at all.’† Clearly therefore the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury. Rich beyond conception is the profit of spiritual labour. (Chapter 10:16.) “The Son of man gives to the labourer enduring meat. The violent take the kingdom of heaven by force. The labour of love God is not unrighteous to forget.” (John 6:27. Hebrews 6:10.) But the talk of the lips gives husks, not bread. Where there are only shallow conceptions of the gospel, and no experimental enjoyment of Christian establishment, it is ‘all running out in noise.’† There is no instruction, because there is no “good treasure” within. (Matthew 12:35.) “What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another?” (Luke 24:17) — is a searching question. Ministers, doctrines, the externals, circumstantials, disputations on religion — all may be the mere skirts and borders of the great subject, utterly remote from the heart and vitals. And indeed, the discussion of the substance of religion without reverence, without a sense of the Divine presence, and a single eye to edification, is only a profanation of holy things, and at best must alienate the precious truths from their true purpose. Nothing comes from a broken heart. It is only the deluding indulgence of a refined lust, a religious tongue without a godly heart — all tending only to penury. Take care that the religious conversation deserves the name. Let the stamp of the profession of the saints of God be visible. (Psalm 145:10-12.) Let the burning theme of the Savior's love flow from the heart. (Luke 24:14-32.) Let that “name, which is above every name,” be upon our lips, “as ointment poured forth;” so that “the whole house” — all that are living with us — “may be filled with the odour of the ointment.” (Song of Solomon 1:3. John 12:3.)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Romans 6:21
21 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.
 
 
Proverbs 10:21
21 The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom. {of wisdom: Heb. of heart}
 
Proverbs 15:7
7 ¶ The lips of the wise disperse knowledge: but the heart of the foolish doeth not so.
 
 
Genesis 3:19
19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
 
 
Proverbs 20:4
4 ¶ The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing. {cold: or, winter}
 
Proverbs 21:25
25 ¶ The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour.
 
 
Ecclesiastes 12:9, 10
9 And moreover, because the preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yea, he gave good heed, and sought out, and set in order many proverbs. {moreover...: or, the more wise the preacher was, etc} 10 The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth. {acceptable...: Heb. words of delight}
 
 
Proverbs 10:8
8 ¶ The wise in heart will receive commandments: but a prating fool shall fall. {a prating...: Heb. a fool of lips} {fall: Heb. be beaten}
 
 
Footnote:
Bishop Butler's Sermon on the Government of the Tongue.
 
 
Proverbs 10:16
16 ¶ The labour of the righteous tendeth to life: the fruit of the wicked to sin.
 
 
John 6:27
27 Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed. {Labour not: or, Work not}
 
Hebrews 6:10
10 For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
 
 
Footnote:
Henry. 1 Timothy 5:13. See Bunyan's graphical portrait of Talkative.
 
 
1 Timothy 5:13
13 And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.
 
 
Matthew 12:35
35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.
 
 
Luke 24:17
17 And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?
 
 
Psalm 145:10-12
10 ¶ All thy works shall praise thee, O LORD; and thy saints shall bless thee. 11 They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom, and talk of thy power; 12 To make known to the sons of men his mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of his kingdom.
 
 
Luke 24:14-32
14 And they talked together of all these things which had happened. 15 And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them. 16 But their eyes were holden that they should not know him. 17 And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad? 18 And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days? 19 And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people: 20 And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him. 21 But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done. 22 Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre; 23 And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive. 24 And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not. 25 Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: 26 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? 27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. 28 And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further. 29 But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them. 30 And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. 31 And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight. {vanished...: or, ceased to be seen of them} 32 And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Song of Solomon 1:3
3 Because of the savour of thy good ointments thy name is as ointment poured forth, therefore do the virgins love thee.
 
John 12:3
3 Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.