The scripture never offers a positive viewpoint of meddling. One might consider intermeddling with wisdom as a good thing, yet the scripture teaches otherwise. Today’s passage states that a man through desire seeks and intermeddles with “all” wisdom. According to James, there are two major types of wisdom, earthly (James 3:15) and heavenly (James 3:17). According to Proverbs 18:1, the man intermeddles with all wisdom, including the earthly. He separates himself from the pure truth and opens his mind to all the various types of wisdom that the world offers. Just as the scriptural teaching on meddling in other places, the man has no business involving himself with the world’s wisdom.
The world constantly and consistently contradicts the truths of God. For instance, it has convinced mankind that it is manly to start a fight and cowardly to cease from strife. As is almost always the case, the world’s natural way of thinking stands in stark contrast to true scriptural teachings. According to scripture, “It is an honour for a man to cease from strife.” This reveals that the most honourable of men are those who through God-given wisdom are able to bring strife to a peaceable resolution without the need for war. A fool, however, continues to meddle until a fight breaks out. The Bible clearly states the dangers of meddling, yet a fool chooses to ignore the scriptural warning to his own hurt.
Meddling in the problems of others is a dangerous practice resulting in unforeseen outcomes. The Bible uses two comparisons to help convey the danger involved with meddling. Proverbs 17:14 compares meddling to the letting out of previously restrained water. The idea is that meddling with the problems belonging to others is like personally opening the gates once restraining a large body of water. The second comparison is found in Proverbs 26:17. The Bible says, “He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.” When someone does this, the dog turns upon the individual. Both of these warnings demonstrate the grievous dangers involved in unnecessarily meddling in the affairs of others.
Believers should seek to be pure in every facet of life. One might consider limiting this to the places he goes or the things he hears and sees, but purity demands a much greater focus. Believers ought to think on pure things (Philippians 4:8) with pure minds (2 Peter 3:1) and pure consciences (1 Timothy 3:9; 2 Timothy 1:3). In particular, believers should have pure hearts before the Lord (1 Timothy 1:5; 2 Timothy 2:22). A pure heart will lead to a pure conscience and a pure mind. A pure heart changes where a man goes, what he looks upon, and the things he allows to enter into his ears. Every Christian should strive to make sure that all things are pure.
Our flesh makes us naturally prone to rebellion and uncleanness. Yet, fewer and fewer people seem willing to accept this Bible truth. Most men would rather continue in uncleanness while pretending to live pure before the Lord. According to our passage, “There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness.” It is impossible to be simultaneously pure and filthy. We may understand this from a practical standpoint but refuse to accept it spiritually. True purity is never based on man’s opinion but upon God’s unwavering point of view. The word of God remains the only mechanism for determining truth and error. Instead of repenting and striving to align with God’s viewpoint, the worldly Christian will claim purity while walking in his filthiness. Unfortunately, Christians are moving away from the truth rather than toward it.
“Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh” (Matthew 12:34). As such, the words that proceed from our mouths provide helpful insights into the condition of our hearts. A man can only deceive with his words for so long; eventually, his speech exposes the reality of his heart's condition. The Bible reinforces this truth when it says, “the words of the pure are pleasant words” (Proverbs 15:26). The Bible also identifies words of praise to God as “pleasant” words (Psalm 135:3; Psalm 147:1). Impure words manifest an unpleasantness. Whereas, a pure heart utters pure words and speaks of the Lord and of His goodness.
God is pure in every way. It logically follows that a pure God speaks only pure words. The Bible insures that we know the truth about these matters. According to scripture, “the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes” (Psalm 19:8). The writer later adds, “Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it” (Psalm 119:140). Both verses speak of the word of God in its entirety. In other words, the word of God (all 66 books) is without any foreign substance that would defile it in any way. The scripture also declares that the “words of the LORD are pure words” (Psalm 12:6). Again, which words? The Lord insures that there is no excuse for not understanding that “Every word of God is pure” (Proverbs 30:5). The Devil hates God and the things of God. He wants the world to believe that the Bible has been defiled. God claims otherwise. Who will you believe; God or the Devil?
