When Words Are Used to Win, Not Love (Proverbs 20:14)
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Proverbs 20:14
“Bad, bad,” says the buyer,
but when he goes away, then he boasts.
This is one of those Proverbs that feels like it’s just talking about business — like something you'd overhear at a flea market. But I think there's something deeper happening here. It’s not just about haggling for a better price; it’s about the way our words can be used as tools—not for truth, but for leverage.
Picture it: a dusty marketplace, colorful rugs stacked high, spices in sacks, and a buyer wrinkling his nose at a beautiful piece of pottery. “Bad, bad,” he says. “It’s flawed. Not worth the asking price.” But the moment he walks away with it tucked under his arm, he’s telling everyone, “What a steal! I can’t believe I got it so cheap!”
That, right there, is what the proverb is getting at. The buyer pretends something has no value—just to get more for less. It’s a performance. A manipulation. A tiny con.
And honestly? It gets at something I’ve already started to feel in my short time working in the business world. The game of “downplay then boast” feels… everywhere. And I get it. There has to be exchange, value, negotiation. But so often, it’s not just about getting a fair deal—it’s about winning.
And when winning becomes the goal, people become pawns. Words become weapons. Relationships become strategies.
And that feels hollow. Because it is.
It’s like the world trades in a kind of counterfeit currency—what I’d call the “false currency of praise.” Words that sound humble but are actually manipulative. Compliments that carry hooks. Politeness used as camouflage. “Bad, bad,” the buyer says—not because he believes it, but because it benefits him.
That kind of speech erodes trust. It makes it hard to know what’s real. Who’s being honest? Who actually cares?
I’ve had a taste of that recently. By God’s grace, I’ve had the opportunity to serve in a kind of part-time political role this week. And wow—trying to discern who actually cares and who’s just playing a part? That’s tough. There’s a temptation to start playing the game yourself. To mirror the market. To get what you can.
But here’s the thing: Jesus never dealt in false currency.
He never exaggerated to win. He never downplayed to gain. He never said “bad, bad” to someone’s face and then turned around to boast. When He spoke, it was truth—sometimes uncomfortable, always unwavering. His “yes” meant yes. His “no” meant no. His love was real, and His words were clean.
And if we follow Him—if we say we belong to His kingdom—we have to ask ourselves this morning:
What kind of currency am I spending? Am I using my words as a tool to manipulate?
Where have I been tempted to speak in “false currency” — to deceive — this week?
As Christians, we’re called to be people who care. Not just people who win.
And that means being the kind of person who tells the truth—even when it costs us something. It means refusing to play games with our words. It means refusing to devalue others just so we can feel like we got a deal.
So here’s your invitation today: Don’t spend counterfeit words. Don’t trade in false praise. Speak truth. Be real. Love well.
And remember: Jesus never haggled for you. He didn’t drive your price down. He didn’t walk away bragging about the deal He got. He paid full price. With His blood.
So let’s live like people who were bought at a price—because we were.
Let’s pray.
