Ready. Set. Grow! Footsteps of Faith for a Life That Flourishes by Heidi St. JohnSample

A Gold Ring in a Pig’s Snout

“A beautiful woman who lacks discretion is like a gold ring in a pig’s snout.” Proverbs 11:22, NLT

Does Scripture make you laugh out loud sometimes? I can’t help but see the humor in the words from time to time. This morning in my devotion time, I was reading Proverbs 11. Verse 22 made me laugh out loud because it painted such an outrageous picture!

Think about it for a minute. Can you see a big fat pig, covered in dried mud, ears flopping, with its corkscrew tail? Perhaps it has some rotten cabbage leaves stuck on its forehead from foraging in the garbage. And there in the drooling, glistening snout is a beautiful gold ring. Ha!

I instantly went back twenty-five years to when my husband was new to full-time ministry. One of the most beautiful women in the church sang in the choir.

She had perfect teeth, a flawless complexion, gorgeous hair, and a movie-star figure. She dressed to the nines and was always wearing the latest fashions. She was the kind of woman who could make anyone jealous. Except for one thing. She had absolutely no discretion and even less discernment.

She was always the first to share the latest gossip—the juicier, the better. She would pull you aside and say, “I certainly hope it’s not true, but I heard that Jessica is blah, blah, blah.” Her lack of discretion was so flagrant that it rendered her ugly despite her outward appearance. Every woman in the church knew her reputation and tried to steer clear of her. It was hard to reconcile how someone so beautiful on the outside could be ugly on the inside. It really was like putting a beautiful gold ring in a pig’s snout.

If you want to be considered beautiful, practice discretion. Embrace discernment. Learn what is inappropriate to say, and avoid it. Your husband will love you for it, and your friends will know they can trust you with their heart of hearts.

And the next time you are tempted to speak in an undiscerning way, just picture a filthy pig with a gold ring in its snout!

Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank You, Lord, for Your overflowing grace. My desire is to be a person who consistently exercises discernment. Help me, Lord, to grow in my faith and understanding. Help me seek wisdom, Your wisdom, and to live a life honoring to You.

Sometimes my words are not an appropriate reflection of Your work in me. Teach me, Lord, to rely on Your strength and guidance fully.

May my words and actions reflect the wisdom and grace that comes only from You.

In the precious name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.