Proverbs 12:14

A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth: and the recompense of a man’s hands shall be rendered unto him.

Obedience to God’s will and its fruits

Wheresoever goodness is, whether it bridle our tongue, or guide our hand, or regulate our fancy, it carries its satisfaction, its recompense, along with it. Our songs of praise echo back again upon us; the works of our hands follow us, and fill us with joy; and our thoughts, if goodness raise them, are comforts. Goodness, whether in thought, word, or deed, will satisfy us, that is, fill us with joy; and nothing will satisfy us but goodness. The argument will hold a contrario: if that which is good satisfy us, then that which is evil cannot.

I. Goodness doth satisfy.

1. This we cannot doubt, if we know what goodness is, and consider the nature of it, and the fountain from whence it springs. For it flows from God. It is a beam from that Eternal Light, an emanation from God Himself. The nearer goodness carrieth to the fountain of goodness, the more satisfaction it brings with it, and the fuller is our cup. Without God we cannot be happy in heaven itself, nay, without Him there could be no heaven.

2. As we draw an argument from piety, so may we draw another from the love of it. As Augustine saith, “We do not only love goodness, but even the love with which we embrace it, and delight in both.” Joy and satisfaction is a resultancy from love. That which we love is also the joy of our heart.

3. If the bare opinions of piety, in those who are not yet made perfect, satisfy, though it be but for a while, then piety itself will satisfy much more. If the shadow hath this operation, what hath the substance, the thing itself! If a form of godliness, then much more godliness in its full power, will fill and satisfy us.

II. Nothing else can satisfy us but goodness. It is the prerogative of goodness and piety to be alone in this work.

1. Satisfaction is but a name on earth.

2. Such is the nature and quality of the soul, that it is not fashioned nor proportioned to the things of this world.

3. God hath imprinted in the soul and in the very nature of man an “infinite and insatiable desire,” which cannot be satisfied with anything that the world can present. The soul which is made capable of God, can be satisfied with nothing but God.

4. In wickedness, impiety, the licentiousness of the tongue, and the wantonness of the hands, no satisfaction can possibly be found.

5. To show how unsatisfying a thing sin is, you may behold it tormenting the wicked man, and that not only after the act, but also before and in it, first forbidding itself, then perplexing him in the act, and after gnawing the heart.

Application:

1. If the fruit of our hands and lips be that alone which can satisfy us, let us then be up and doing, buckle on the armour of light, and quench every fiery dart of Satan.

2. Let us level our actions and endeavours on this, and not spend and waste ourselves on that which is not bread, and will never fill us.

3. If nothing will satisfy us but righteousness and piety, we need not consult what we are to choose here.

4. If this be the prerogative of goodness, godliness, to be alone in this work, then let her have prerogative also in our hearts, and exercise full power, and authority, and dominion over our desires. (A. Farindon, B.D.)

Retributions of the lip and life

I. The retributions of the lip. Speech, to be good, must be--

1. Sincere.

2. Truthful.

3. Benevolent. How will such speech satisfy a man?

(1) In its action upon his own mind.

(2) In the effect he sees produced on others.

(3) In the conscious approbation of God.

II. The retributions of the life. The hand here stands for the whole conduct of life. It means that man should receive the reward of his works. And this is inevitable--

1. From the law of causation.

2. From the law of conscience.

3. From the law of righteousness. There is justice in the universe. (Homilist.)

Mischievous language

The language of keen irritation, reproach, invective and scorn, often inflicts wounds on the heart that are deep and hard of cure--wounds “like the piercings of a sword.” This is especially the case when the words are from the lips of a friend, or of one we love, when heated by sudden passion. Wit, too, when not chastened and controlled by an amiable disposition, often wounds deeply. Jibes, jests, irony, raillery, and sarcasm, fly about. No matter what the wounds, or where they be inflicted, if the wit be but shown. A happy hit, a clever, biting repartee, will not be suppressed for the sake of the feelings, or even the character, of a neighbour, or, as it may happen, of a friend The man of wit must have his joke, cost what it may. The point may be piercing in the extreme; but if it glitters, it is enough; to the heart it will go. Such a man is feared, hated, avoided. (R. Wardlaw.)

The fruit of the mouth

The word which issues out of the lips is the greatest power in human life. Words will change the currents of life. On the use of the tongue depend the issues of a man’s own life. Such fruits as a man’s tongue bears, a man must eat. If his words have been good, then he shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth. The fool’s lips are always coming into strife, and his mouth is always calling for stripes. His lips are the snare of his soul. An old proverb says, “A fool’s tongue is always long enough to cut his own throat.”

1. The tongue is a fruitful source of quarrelling and discord. A fool cannot hide his vexation, but must immediately blurt it out with the tongue, and make mischief.

2. The tongue is the instrument of lying. It is the tongue which by false witness so often condemns the innocent.

3. Closely allied to lying is flattery, which is always a mistake.

4. Another evil use of the tongue is whispering and tale-bearing. Disclosing the secret of another is a sure way of incurring reproach and lasting infamy.

5. The tongue is sometimes employed to plot, plan, and execute mischief.

6. More pardonable vices are rashness and inopportuneness of speech. Yet these are evil enough in their way.

7. We need caution against excessive speech. There are good and beautiful uses of the tongue. It is the instrument of peace-making, of wise reproof, of the instruction of the innocent, and the championship of the distressed. (R. F. Horton, D. D.)