We should ‘LEARN’ to SPEAK SOFTLY!
July 3
Bible Reading: Proverbs Chapters 13-15
We should ‘LEARN’ to SPEAK SOFTLY!
"A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, but the mouth of fools pours
forth foolishness." (Prov. 15:1-2)
The
influence of our words and speech dominates the content of Proverbs 15. It is
the wise men and women who know how to use their tongues skillfully, due to
which they can avert angry confrontation (v. 1), dispense knowledge (v. 7), and
communicate joy (v. 23). The power of words to build up or to destroy
relationships is also stressed in this chapter through verses 2, 4, 7, 14, and
23.A wise person’s tongue pours forth helpful information. He/she knows what,
when, where, and how to speak. On the other hand, foolishness gushes like a
torrent from the mouth of fools.
A gentle or
conciliating answer prevents wrath from bursting forth or from increasing. If we
answer someone with a harsh word, it stirs up their fleshly nature that will
result in a heated confrontation and a quarrel without much delay. While anger can
be removed by a gentle response, a heated response fuels the flame. Gideon gave
a soft answer to criticism from others due to which their anger was subsided
(see Judges 8:1-5).
The power
for good and evil that lies in the human tongue is awesome. A soft word will often disarm a person
whose heart is bent upon great harm, whereas harsh words serve only to stir up
great anger. Often it is not so much what we say but the way we say it that
prompts such varied responses as acceptance and wrath. A good example to note
is in Abigail’s gentle words to David when he was angry (see 1 Sam. 25:12–34).
A wise person
masters the art of producing the right answer at the proper time and place, and
often allows angry words to pass unchallenged by having his/her own personal
feelings in subjection. This wise person knows when to speak and uses his/her
knowledge to be profitable for the hearers. The wise share knowledge and are
like fruitful trees that feed many (v. 4).
On the other side, a fool is always ready with an answer, but people are
seldom profited by his/her foolish contribution. Fools pour out words that
accomplish nothing (v. 2).
So, when we open
our mouths remember the fact that we let people know whether we are foolish or
wise. Let us practice to talk low, talk slow and not say too much. We should
bite our tongues before our tongues bite us. Let us build people up and not
tear them down through our words. Let our tongues “use knowledge rightly”.
Let us set a guard over our lips, control our tongues, evaluate every thought
that we think and watch every word that we speak.
