How can Proverbs 17:4 guide our media consumption choices today? Listening to Evil Lips: The Core Warning “A wicked man listens to evil lips; a liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.” (Proverbs 17:4) • God links what we choose to hear with the moral condition of our hearts. • Lending our ears to “evil lips” isn’t passive; it shapes us into the kind of people described—wicked and deceitful. • The verse places full responsibility on the listener: what we allow in will eventually flow out. (cf. Luke 6:45) Tracing the Principle Through the Rest of Scripture • Psalm 101:3—“I will set no worthless thing before my eyes…” • 1 Corinthians 15:33—“Bad company corrupts good character.” • Ephesians 5:11—“Have no fellowship with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.” • Philippians 4:8—“Whatever is true…pure…lovely…think on these things.” Together these passages reinforce one thread: God calls His people to active discernment, not passive consumption. Why This Matters for Media Today • Our phones, TVs, playlists, and newsfeeds are modern “lips” and “tongues.” • Algorithms amplify voices; Proverbs 17:4 reminds us to check whether those voices are truthful or corrosive. • What entertains us trains us. If deception or vulgarity become our soundtrack, they will inform our speech, attitudes, and choices. Practical Filters for Daily Choices Before pressing Play, scrolling farther, or clicking “Next Episode,” run content through these biblical lenses: 1. Truth Test – Does it treat good and evil honestly, or does it glamorize sin? (Isaiah 5:20) 2. Purity Test – Would this content grieve the Holy Spirit who dwells in you? (Ephesians 4:30) 3. Benefit Test – Will it build me up or weigh me down? (1 Corinthians 10:23) 4. Witness Test – Could I recommend it without embarrassment to a younger believer? (Romans 14:13) Guarding the Gate of Our Ears and Eyes • Curate feeds: unfollow sources that traffic in gossip, crude humor, or slander. • Set time boundaries: endless scrolling increases exposure to deceptive voices. • Choose nourishing alternatives: Scripture apps, edifying podcasts, uplifting music. • Invite accountability: share viewing lists or playlists with a trusted believer. Training Our Hearts for Truth • Replace idle media time with Scripture listening; let truth retune your inner ear. • Memorize verses like Philippians 4:8; recall them when questionable content appears. • Celebrate creative works that honor God’s design for beauty, justice, and redemption. • Remember Romans 12:2: transformation happens through renewing the mind, not entertaining it with deception. Living Proverbs 17:4 today means we don’t merely avoid “evil lips”; we actively prize voices that echo God’s truth. As we guard our inputs, we guard our hearts—and out of them will flow words and actions that honor Christ. |
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