WEIGH YOUR WORDS CAREFULLY

Proverbs 10:8-14

⁸     The wise in heart accept commands,

but a chattering fool comes to ruin.

⁹     The man of integrity walks securely,

but he who takes crooked paths will be found out.

¹⁰     He who winks maliciously causes grief,

and a chattering fool comes to ruin.

¹¹     The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,

but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked.

¹²     Hatred stirs up dissension,

but love covers over all wrongs.

¹³     Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning,

but a rod is for the back of him who lacks judgment.

¹⁴     Wise men store up knowledge,

but the mouth of a fool invites ruin.

Here we do have one of those sections in Solomon’s Proverbs that are all tied together by a common theme – our words carry weight. The words we use can build up or they can tear down. They can encourage or they can deflate. They can bless or they can curse. They can give Godly advice or they can be misleading. They can be wise or they can be foolish.

The words we use really are a reflection of what is in our hearts. A hate-filled heart spews hate-filled words. A love-filled heart gushes loving words. How important it is to be filled with the Holy Spirit! How important it is to be in the Word that fills our hearts with the Holy Spirit!

One final thought about the words we use that has nothing to do with the mouth. Rather, it has everything do to with our ears. Solomon stated that the fool is quick to speak and slow to listen. The wise, on the other hand, will listen first, listen well and then say what needs to be said.

PRAYER: Holy Spirit, silence the hate and envy and jealousy and vengefulness and wickedness of my sinful heart and bring forth from my heart of faith words that build up and encourage and praise and bless and thank and words that share with others what God has done for all in Christ Jesus. Amen.