Words are very important, whether written words or spoken. The words in books have drawn people to follow them, whether for good or for bad. The particular words we choose to speak can forge a friendship, cause someone to fall in love, or make an enemy, all because of what words we have said. King Solomon, one of the wisest men ever, along with a few other people, wrote the Book of Proverbs, a collection of wise sayings to help guide one’s life in a number of different areas. In our Scripture passage today from the 15th chapter, we will look at a few proverbs that deal with what and how we speak, along with a few other proverbs.
Our Scripture passage opens with a rather well-known proverb, and one that could never really be disputed, that of “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” (vs. 1). Most of us can remember times when we responded back to some nasty words spoken to us with some angry, biting words of our own. And what happened? Was the dispute amicably settled then? No! Our angry retort only made the matter worse. An argument can easily escalate to the point where a single harsh word can cause an explosion of anger. If we answer an angry word with another angry word, it will only inflame the situation. Scripture tells us that it is best to answer calmly and rationally, or not at all. We need to turn away from anger. Seek peace and use gentle words.
A soft or gentle word can remove the fuse from a hot and angry situation. Do you prefer harshness and belligerence, or is gentleness evident in your words? We need to watch our tongue and heal with our words, rather than hurt others. The words we say can bring life to the spirit and well-being of others, or they can crush others, destroying their spirit and morale (vs. 4). Since so many in the world today are so quick to cut others down with their words, this will set us, as believers and followers of the Lord Jesus, apart from the rest of the world.
As we continue in our chapter of Proverbs, I pause for a brief moment at verse 3. Nothing ever escapes God’s notice. Nothing will ever surprise Him or catch Him off guard. God will always accomplish what He desires. Some people think that God is not involved with the affairs of this earth, or that because of how bad things are, He just doesn’t care. Others think they can do whatever they want, as God doesn’t see. The Bible tells us both those ideas are wrong. He sees and knows all.
We drop down to verse 8 and the Lord tells us that He rejects the offerings of the wicked. If they think that a financial contribution to a charity will impress or placate Him, while they go back to their wicked ways, they are wrong. External acts of worship are repulsive to God when the heart of the worshipper is wicked.
Verse 13 is another proverb that is well-known. Negativity holds the power to drain our strength and crush our spirits. Optimism has the power to do just the opposite. As Christians we should intentionally fill our hearts with joy in Christ instead of dwelling on circumstances with sadness. Then we will have cheerful thoughts, a positive outlook, and an unsinkable faith, no matter what. There is no more effective testimony of a changed life than a joyful spirit. Someone once said “Joy is the flag flying high above the castle of the heart, announcing that the King is in residence there.”
In closing let’s take a quick look at the last verse of our passage selection, verse 14. Most of us try to be careful about what we eat, and try to avoid things that would be harmful. What we feed our minds is just as important as what we feed our bodies. What we read, watch, and listen to are a part of our mental diet. We need to be discerning with that, as it will affect our whole life. Seeking after godly knowledge is a mark of wisdom.
God gave us the Book of Proverbs to help guide our lives each day with His wisdom, to keep us on a godly, wise, and safe path. Every time we read it, we can learn something to help us through life.
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