Watch What You Stir Up

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Gentlemen, every day is a battle. A battle for your faith, your family, and your purpose. The men who stand strong don't prepare when the battle arrives. They prepare before it begins. Welcome to the Men's Morning Devotional. Let's get into God's word. It's time to man up.

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Good morning, gentlemen. Steve Alesi, the old guy on the team, and it's time for another man up moment. If you're enjoying this devotional, be sure to share with a friend. He may need this word today. So we continue looking through the book of wisdom in Proverbs chapter 6, and today's devotional is going to be about a man who's challenged to watch what you stir up. Proverbs 6, 12 through 15. It says, a scoundrel and villain who goes about with a corrupt mouth, who winks with his eye, signals with his feet, and motions with his fingers, who plots evil with deceit in his heart, he always stirs up dissension. Therefore, disaster will overtake him in an instant, and he will suddenly be destroyed without remedy. Now, we've all been around that guy who seems to always have a problem with somebody. You know the guy? He's the drama king who always is stirring it up with somebody, always seemingly having an issue with a guy, always talking trash, always in a disagreement. And what does he want to do? He wants to pull other guys into that disagreement with him. Solomon is calling that guy out right here, and he describes him as one who always stirs up dissension, which is something every man needs to guard against. Because you don't have to throw a punch to get into a fight and cause damage to others in your relationships. Sometimes all it takes is your mouth, a comment, a little gossip, a joke or sarcastic remark, a comment on a group text feed. Before long, something that could have been handled by two people has now spread to five. So here's a good rule for men don't make someone else's problem your opportunity to stir things up. Strong men, they don't create unnecessary division. Strong men bring peace. Not that we avoid confrontation, as there are times when a man needs to speak up and address something directly or even have the hard conversation. But there is a big difference, guys, between confronting a problem and stirring up a problem. One is trying to bring resolution, but the other just enjoys keeping the issue alive. And Solomon tells us that this starts deeper than our words. He says, the man who plots evil with deceit in his heart. That means before you check your mouth, sometimes you need to check your heart. Why am I telling the story or sending the text? Why do I want this person to know what happened? Am I really trying to help or am I just trying to get somebody else on my side? Am I bringing people together or quietly am I pulling them apart? You see, men, our words carry weight, especially with our wives, our kids, the friends and coworkers that we hang with. So use your influence to lower the temperature instead of raising it. Don't be the guy who walks into a peaceful room and creates tension. Instead, be the man who walks into tension and helps create peace. Here's your man up challenge for today. Pay attention to what you're stirring up with your words. So before you repeat something about another person, just ask yourself, does this need to be said? Or am I the man who needs to say it? If there's a problem, go to the person involved instead of talking around them and look for one opportunity today to shut gossip down. You can do it. You can stop the division. You can even bring two people closer together because you don't want to be the guy who stirs up trouble. Instead, be a man who brings peace. Let's pray. Father, guard our heart and our mouth today. Help us recognize when our words could create unnecessary division. Give us the courage to speak truth when needed, but also wisdom to always do what is right in the heart. Use our words and our influence to bring peace, unity, and strength to the people around us today. In Jesus' name. Amen.

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All right, gentlemen, you've heard God's word. Now go live it. Lead well, stand strong, honor God in everything you do. Share this devotional with another brother. Remember, every day is another opportunity to man up.