Lunch With Solomon

“So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.”

James 1:19–20



Sitting at lunch with a friend this past week I was reminded why I enjoy listening to him speak when we get together. He doesn’t say a whole lot but what he does say is meaningful, thoughtful and very impactful. I keep my phone in my hand as he speaks and he laughs as I literally am writing down notes as he shares  because I know he is going to say something that I want and need to meditate on long after our conversations end. In other words, he gives me a lot to think about. His wisdom reminds me of that of King Solomon as many of the truths he shares are like a proverbial statement. I like Pastor Jon Courson’s definition of a Proverb, “A short pithy statement that packs a powerful punch.”

While we were enjoying lunch a family I met in recent weeks was in the restaurant and I thought they would enjoy meeting my friend as they are both successful entrepreneurs that have a lot in common. I introduced them and in just a mater of minutes they were talking as if they were life long friends. To be honest much of what they were sharing I couldn’t even understand as it had to do with engineering and biochemical applications so I just sat and listened and enjoyed that fact they they seemed to be new best friends. The son of this family I introduced to my friend would interrupt his father and my friend as they spoke. He did it so often that my friend finally said something that we so profound I had to write it down.

In a stern voice he looked right at the young man and said, “You never learn anything when you are talking”. Suddenly the light hearted conversation turned to momentarily awkward silence and I sat wondering what would happen next. Proverbs 18:2 came to mind, “A fool has no delight in understanding, But in expressing his own heart.” The father just laughed and looked at his son and said, “it’s true you know” to which his son replied, “I understand” and then my friend went on to explain that he had no intention of hurting the young mans feelings but wanted to bring some much needed correction. To this young mans credit he received it and for the next hour they continued sharing and a friendship was born. As I listened to the exchange taking place Proverbs 9:8-9 ran through my mind, “Do not correct a scoffer, lest he hate you; Rebuke a wise man, and he will love you. Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; Teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.”

By the time this family and my friend ended their conversation they had already exchanged phone numbers and had set a date to visit my friends home for dinner. As we ended our lunch time together I felt like I had just sat in a bible study on how to walk in wisdom, along with the benefits of listening verses talking. More bible verses than I could write down in that moment came to mind. Scriptures like Proverbs 17:28, “Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace; When he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive” and Proverbs 10:19, “In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, But he who restrains his lips is wise.” As I walked to my truck I thanked the Lord for allowing me to have lunch with Solomon (not my friends real name).


“Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips.”


Psalm 141:3


I LOVE YOU!