Proverbs 26:15 says, The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom; it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth.  The slothful, or lazy man, hates to have to even raise his hand to feed himself.  God expects His people to be at work sharing His love in the world.  Verse sixteen states, The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason.  This sluggard will not listen to the wisdom of seven, or a group, of men, because he believes that he is smarter than they are.  Some people simply refuse to listen to reason, or the truth of God.  We cannot afford to be slothful in our relationship to God.  Verse seventeen declares, He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.  If we meddle in affairs that don't really concern us, we may be hurt.  This doesn't mean that we are to totally withdraw from the world, but that at times we are better off to let others settle their disputes.  Verse eighteen says, As a mad man who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death   Verse nineteen continues, So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am not I in sport?  These two verses tell us that a person who deceives his neighbor, and then brags about it, is just as dangerous as a mad man throwing firebrands or shooting arrows at someone.  Verse twenty states, Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.  Just as a fire without wood goes out, so does strife caused by tale bearing or gossip if it is not repeated.  As followers of Christ, we should never add fuel to the fire of discord by gossiping.  Verse twenty-one adds, As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife.  Those who don't want to agree with anybody just add fuel to the fire of contention.  They love controversy.  Verse twenty-two says, The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.  This is a continuation of the warning about the problems caused by the tale bearer.  They cause deep wounds for those they are speaking against.  Verse twenty-three states, Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross.  Burning lips, or those that cannot wait to tell tales,  when driven by a wicked heart, are just as deceptive as a clay jar covered with the dross of silver.  Though such a vessel may look good on the outside, it is really not worth very much.  Verse twenty-four says, He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him;  Then verse twenty-five continues, When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart.  We should never put much faith in what a person who continually puts others down says.  Even if the do speak fair words, we cannot trust what they say because their hearts are not right with God.  Verse twenty-six adds, Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shewed before the whole congregation.  Though a people may attempt to hide their evil hearts, when confronted with the truth, their true nature will be revealed.  As followers of Christ, we should never be guilty of speaking badly about another person just because we don't agree with that person.  Verse twenty-seven states, Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him.  When we attempt to trap others, we set ourselves up to fall into our own trap.  Verse twenty-eight declares, A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.  Those who tell lies about others hate the ones they lie about.  When we love others as God commands us to do, we will not tell, nor even repeat, lies about them.  We will always seek what is best for others.