Proverbs 6:12
A worthless person, a wicked man, Is one who walks with a perverse mouth, NASB
In previous studies in this chapter, we have talked about being obligated for another person’s debt out of naivety. This was contrasted with the diligence of ants contrasted to a lazy person.
Starting with verse 12 and continuing on through verse 15 we are warned of the wicked man. Interestingly enough he seems to work as hard as the ant in verses 6-9 but they are completely different. Verse 14 tells us his heart is perverse. His core is set on wickedness. Therefore he works at continually devising evil. His works will usually be based on lies. Lies have a short “shelf life.” Eventually the truth will be found out but not before harm is done because of the strife that he causes. This is especially true if we are naive.
We see in these verses that he depends on deception not only of words but also deceptive actions and signals. We expect this in the world but Christians need to be aware that wicked people may be found hanging out in the church. Here are some passages that tell us what to watch for.
2 Thessalonians 2:2&3; 2 Timothy 3:1-7.