Like a bad tooth or a lame foot
is trust in a faithless person in time of trouble.
Proverbs 25:19

I have lived to the point in life when I truly understand a comparison made to a bad tooth and a lame foot. Chewing with a bad tooth and walking on an injured foot is painful. Both of those images drive home a point.

What was the writer of Proverbs trying to convey in this verse? Looking at different English translations, it seems that we shouldn’t put our trust in “unfaithful” or “untrustworthy” folks. We come to know the character of people by our regular encounters. So we can trust our instincts with them when the real troubled times arrive. Such confidence, in those who fall short in this area, is futile. They can’t be counted on when we really need help.

The next step is to make sure that we are true to our word and trustworthy in our actions. Then folks will not run from us like a bad tooth or a lame foot when they are in trouble and need us.

Prayer

God, help me to trust my gut when it comes to looking for folks I can trust. And please make me a steadfast and trustworthy friend to those close to me. Amen.