"The Worthless and Wicked Person"
[Proverbs 6:12-15]
Do you think relationships are easy or difficult? Of course, the answer depends on whom you are relating to. For example, building a relationship with someone who shares similar traits, understands you, and makes you feel comfortable may not be difficult at all. However, the real challenge comes when you encounter someone who is not only vastly different from you but also has a difficult and quirky personality, making you feel uncomfortable and even stressed. Such a person is someone you would want to keep away from and not form any kind of relationship with. But what about someone worse—someone who maliciously slanders, torments, argues, and tries to harm you? How should we respond to such a person?
In the book of Proverbs 6, which we have been reflecting on throughout this week, Solomon, the writer, speaks about two types of individuals who destroy us—one financially, the person who foolishly guarantees debts for others (verses 1-5), and the other morally, the lazy person who leads us to ruin (verses 6-11). Today, in Proverbs 6:12-15, he speaks about a third type: the "worthless and wicked person" who destroys relationships with others ethically. Therefore, under the title "The Worthless and Wicked Person," let us meditate on who these individuals are, based on Proverbs 6:12-15, and seek the lessons God has for us.
First, who are the "worthless and wicked" individuals? According to Naver Dictionary, a "worthless person" is defined as "someone with bad behavior or character," and an "evil person" is someone who "does evil deeds." However, in the original Hebrew, "worthless person" is defined as "useless" or "without value" (Brown). And "wicked person" is described as "a person who is evil" or "a troublemaker" (Brown). When you think of a "worthless person" in the Old Testament, who comes to mind? Perhaps you remember "Nabal," the former husband of Abigail during the time of David. In 1 Samuel 25:25, the Bible says: "Please pay no attention, my lord, to that wicked man Nabal. He is just like his name—his name means fool, and folly goes with him..." Besides Nabal, in 1 Samuel 2:12, the Bible says, "Eli’s sons were wicked; they did not know the Lord." The Bible refers to people like Nabal or Eli's sons as "the men of Belial" (1 Samuel 2:12). Here, "Belial" refers to evil traits such as immorality or worthlessness. In Hebrew, it means "worthless," "scoundrel," "vile," or "wicked." Originally, it was a common noun, but eventually it became associated with the devil himself. The Apostle Paul uses this term in reference to Satan (Internet). For example, in 2 Corinthians 6:15, Paul says: "What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?" This term "worthless and wicked person," with its deep meaning, is described in three ways by King Solomon in our passage, Proverbs 6:12-15.
First, the worthless and wicked person has a deceitful mouth.
Look at today's passage in Proverbs 6:12: "A worthless and wicked person, a man of perversity, walks with a twisted mouth." Here, "a twisted mouth" is literally interpreted as a "crooked mouth" (or a "twisted mouth"), and the words that come from such a mouth are lies and deceptive words (false and deceptive words) (Walvoord). In other words, a worthless and wicked person speaks lies and deceit with their twisted mouth. Therefore, what develops in a wicked person are "eye signals, foot gestures, and finger pointing." Look at verse 13 of today's passage: "He winks with his eyes, signals with his feet, and points with his fingers." What does this mean? The worthless and wicked person, who speaks lies and deceptive words, when scheming, is afraid that the victim will detect their hidden intentions. To prevent the victim from realizing it, they use eye signals, hand gestures, and foot gestures to give signals to their accomplices to carry out the plot. According to Pastor John MacArthur, this practice was common in the East (MacArthur). So, Solomon speaks about eye signals in Proverbs 10:10 and 16:30: "He who winks with his eye causes trouble..." (10:10), "He who shuts his eyes plans wicked things..." (16:30).
Personally, I value honest and sincere conversations that connect hearts in the Lord in human relationships. In that context, when I meet someone, I often pay close attention to their body language. For example, when I am having a serious conversation, I try to look into the other person’s eyes as we talk. I also carefully observe their facial expressions and body posture during the conversation. Sometimes, I even look at their hands. The reason I do this is because I believe people do not only speak with their mouths but also with their gestures. In other words, we humans use many non-verbal elements in communication, and through these non-verbal cues, we transmit many messages to the other person. For example, I recently had a conversation with someone, and that person opened up about their loved one in a serious conversation. What I paid attention to at that moment was that the person’s voice was trembling, their eyes were moist with tears, and what I vividly remember is that I saw the person’s throat. At that moment, as they swallowed while speaking, I could feel they were trembling. From that feeling, I could sense how much that person loved their spouse. I had no doubt that the person was speaking truthfully and opening their heart to me about their loved one. However, sometimes when I talk to certain people, I find it difficult to understand their true feelings. For instance, there are people who, while speaking to me, have a loud and bright voice, as if they are welcoming, but when I observe the content of their words and their body language, they seem to be exaggerating or hiding their true feelings. When talking to such people, I sometimes get the feeling that they are trying to conceal their true emotions, and because of this, I cannot feel the sincerity in their heart and find it hard to fully trust what they are saying.
The reason I share these personal thoughts and examples is to emphasize the importance of sincerity in our hearts and the consistency between our words and actions in human relationships. If we are not sincere with each other and if our words and actions are not consistent, it will be difficult to maintain and develop trust in our conversations and relationships. In order to have beautiful fellowship as saints in the Lord, we must speak the truth with our mouths. We must never speak lies or deceit with a twisted mouth, as the passage today describes about the wicked person.
Secondly, the wicked and worthless person harbors rebellion in their heart and always devises evil.
Look at the first part of Proverbs 6:14: "He devises evil continually, sowing discord." The reason why the mouth of the wicked and evil person speaks lies and deception is because his heart is filled with perversity. In other words, the reason why the mouth of the wicked and evil person twists (or perverts) the truth to speak lies and deception is because his heart is perverted (or twisted). Ultimately, twisted words can only come from a twisted heart. To explain it more clearly, the reason why the wicked and evil person speaks lies and deceit with his mouth is because his heart is false, and he is deceiving himself. Why is the heart of the wicked and evil person false, and why is he deceiving himself? What is the cause? The cause is that he has distorted the truth. To speak from 1 John 1:8, the reason the wicked and evil person’s heart is false and he deceives himself is because the truth is not in him. Therefore, the wicked and evil person believes that he is innocent. The reason is that with his distorted version of truth, he neither sees sin as sin, nor can he.
Friends, Satan loves to distort God’s truth. In other words, Satan twists God’s Word to confuse us. One of the terrifying works of Satan is that he makes us believe in a "mixed truth." That is, Satan adds lies to God's truth, causing us to believe this "mixed truth." How terrifying is this subtle work of Satan? Clearly, Revelation 22:18 says, “If anyone adds to these things (the words of the prophecy of this book), God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book.” But looking at Satan and his servants, the heretics, we see that they are adding to God's Word. Just like when Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness by quoting the Old Testament but twisting the truth with additions (Matthew 4), today, Satan and his servants— the heretics—quote God’s truth but add lies to it, presenting us with a "mixed truth" to deceive us. Just like the passage in Proverbs 6:14, Satan and his servants, the heretics, with perverted hearts, "always plot evil." Those who have no truth in their hearts, but are filled with lies and deceit— which are a distortion of the truth— constantly plot evil to make true Christians, who love and obey the truth, stumble, sin against God, and even depart from Him, leading them into apostasy.
What should we do? First, we must hold the truth in our hearts. Look at Psalm 119:11: "I have hidden Your word in my heart, that I might not sin against You." Friends, when we cherish God's truth in our hearts, we will not sin against Him. And when we obey His Word and write it deeply in our hearts, we will be able to fight and overcome when Satan and heretics try to deceive us with their distorted lies. Furthermore, we must hold the truth in our hearts and always seek to do good. The reason is that we are created in Christ Jesus for good works (Ephesians 2:10).
Finally, third, King Solomon says that the wicked and evil person stirs up strife.
Look at the second half of Proverbs 6:14: "... who spreads strife." Friends, don't you think it's natural that strife arises when someone with a perverse heart always plots evil and speaks lies with a perverted mouth, deceiving others? King Solomon speaks multiple times about the causes of strife in Proverbs, and he explains them as follows: hatred (10:12), quick temper (15:18), perverseness (16:28), the lips of a fool (18:6; 20:3), arrogance (22:10), greed (28:25), and anger (29:22, 30:33). What do you think? How do you feel about King Solomon's statement that these elements cause strife? I cannot help but agree with King Solomon. Hatred, quick temper, and greed certainly cause strife in human relationships. Personally, the verse that resonates most with me is Proverbs 16:28, which says, "A perverse man stirs up strife."
Friends, have you heard the Korean proverb, "Even if your mouth is crooked, speak straight"? What does it mean? It means we should always speak the truth, right? However, when we argue with one another, sometimes we fail to speak the truth and twist our words. Why do we speak with crooked words when we are in conflict? The answer is simple: because our hearts are twisted. Ultimately, when our hearts are twisted in relationships, twisted words will follow, and this will distort the relationship. This is exactly what Satan desires and delights in: division and strife. Satan loves to see conflict in our homes and churches, causing disputes and separations. Therefore, Satan works hard to plant hatred, anger, perverseness, foolishness, arrogance, and greed in us to keep us in constant conflict. In particular, Satan stirs up our "fighting desires" and uses them to provoke conflict (James 4:1). As a result, Satan even caused Jesus' disciples to argue about "who is the greatest" (Luke 22:24).
The reason why Satan’s work of causing strife is dangerous is because "where there is envy and strife, there is confusion and every evil work" (James 3:16). So, what should we do?
We must avoid strife and pursue peace. To do this, we must speak with a pure heart and with words that are right in God's sight. In other words, we must keep God's truth in our hearts and follow sound teaching, speaking words that are correct. We must also be cautious of and distance ourselves from those who speak perversely, especially those who speak with a crooked heart. This is because people with twisted hearts will stir up strife. Even if you speak the truth to such a person, unless God changes their twisted heart, they will not listen to your right words. Instead, they will hate you and become angry with you.
Let me conclude with a reflection. The wicked and evil person is a worthless and trouble-causing person. Such a person has a deceitful mouth and a perverse heart, and because of their constant plotting of evil, they stir up strife. We must learn from these individuals that we should never become wicked, evil, worthless, and trouble-causing people. Instead, we must strive to be people of truth, with right hearts, always pursuing peace. Therefore, whether in our homes, churches, or communities, we should be people who are useful and valuable in God's eyes.
Look at the second half of today's passage, Proverbs 6:14: "…who spreads strife."
Friends, don’t you think that if someone with a rebellious heart constantly plots evil, speaks lies with a perverse mouth, and deceives others, it’s only natural that strife will arise in the midst of discord? King Solomon mentions strife several times in Proverbs, and he points out the causes of strife in the following ways: hatred (10:12), easily being angry (15:18), perversity (16:28), the lips of fools (18:6; 20:3), arrogance (22:10), greed (28:25), and wrath (29:22, 30:33).
What do you think? How do you interpret King Solomon’s view that these elements cause strife? I can’t help but agree with King Solomon’s words. Whether it’s hatred, easily being angered, or greed, these things certainly cause strife in human relationships. Especially, the one that speaks to me the most among these causes of strife is the verse from Proverbs 16:28, which says, “A perverse person stirs up conflict.”
Friends, you may know the Korean proverb that says, "Even if your mouth is crooked, speak straight." What does it mean? Doesn’t it mean that we should always speak with integrity? However, when we fight with each other, there are times when we fail to speak correctly and instead twist our words. And when that happens, it’s inevitable that we’ll have conflict. Why do we twist our words? The answer is simple: because our hearts are twisted. Ultimately, when our hearts are twisted in relationships, twisted words will inevitably follow, and as a result, the relationship will also be twisted. This is exactly what Satan desires and enjoys: discord and strife. Satan likes to see us fighting and quarreling within our families and churches, leading to divisions and separations. That’s why Satan works hard to fill us with hatred, anger, perversity, foolishness, arrogance, and greed, all to keep us fighting.
In particular, Satan stirs up "fighting desires" within us, causing us to quarrel (James 4:1). As a result, even Satan made the disciples of Jesus argue about "who is the greatest" (Luke 22:24). The reason why Satan’s work of stirring up strife is so dangerous is because "where there is envy and strife, there is confusion and every evil work" (James 3:16).
What should we do?
We must avoid strife and seek peace. To do this, we must speak with a right heart and speak words that are pleasing to God. In other words, we need to store God’s truth in our hearts and follow correct teachings while speaking with integrity. We should also be wary of and keep a distance from people who speak with twisted words. Especially, we must be cautious of those who speak in a distorted manner with an improper heart, as they will lead to strife. No matter how much we speak rightly to such people, unless God changes their twisted hearts, they will not listen to our righteous words. Instead, they will hate us and be angry with us.
I want to conclude with this reflection:
The wicked and evil person is a worthless, trouble-causing person. Such a person has a deceitful mouth and a rebellious heart, always plotting evil, which leads to strife. We should learn from these people that we must never become wicked, evil, worthless, or trouble-causing people. Instead, we should realize that we must be people of truthful lips and righteous hearts, always seeking peace. Therefore, we must become useful and valuable people in the eyes of God, whether in our families, churches, or society.