June 22 – Prov. 14:25; 15:1,4,23,28; 16:24; 17:27-28; 18:20-21; 21:23; 25:11-12; 26:20-22,28 Word Power Made Wise
In all of God’s physical creation, man is unique with words. Animals have some rudimentary forms of communication. Some primates have even learned some basic sign-language. But the intricacies of words both read and verbally expressed is uniquely reserved to those made in the image of God for both prayer and the reading of the Word of God, the Bible.
Prov. 14:25 – God’s truth in the Bible is the truest of witnesses and will make a difference for our eternity.
15:1 – A tender response to volatile situation will abate the heated anger. But an offensive tone of voice and jabbing, painful words will only cause the anger to grow. This is what is meant by the expression, "They had words." People have fallen, sinful natures, and this is the basis reason for their reacting to anger in anger.
Contrary to a popular but misleading saying this proverb implies that "Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words can break my heart."
15:4 – A soothing, healing, gentle way of communicating is a source of rest, cool shade, beauty and refreshment in life. But deceit in communicating crushes people.
There is power in the tongue to hurt and to heal.
15:23 – You can feel good about what you say and how you say it.
Timing: Often it is not what you say but when you say it!
Our words should be thoughtful words, prayerful words
15:28 – Think before you speak! Otherwise you may have "to eat crow."
Hebrews 10:24 says, "and let us [or we should] study one another for a spurring-on of agape-love and fine works." As believers within a church family, we should study and try to understand and be sensitive to each other, so as to figure out the best way to encourage each other to do actions of love and help toward others.
Unbelievers without any sense of God’s direction ultimately pour forth evil.
16:24 – Words can be healthy and healing.
17:27 – You are smart, if you hold back and measure your words and do it with cool-headed composure.
At times there is as much knowledge in what not to say than in what to say.
17:28 – Silence can be quite golden. See Eccl. 3:7b.
Abraham Lincoln once noted, "Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt. "
In other words, it is better to be thought of, as a fool, then to open you mouth and prove the point.
18:20 – A person should be careful and happy about what he says.
18:21 – Those who love to talk will experience the consequences, for the tongue can kill or nourish life.
The term translated "power" literally is "hand" implying control and ability. The controlling of the tongue can bring about life or death, and anyone who loves this controlling of the tongue will enjoy its effects and results.
Man far above the animals has this avenue of communication that can bring both death and life. Physical death could come from the perjury of a witness in a capital case, and eternal death can come from the false gospel of a pagan religion. On the other hand a verbal witness to the Gospel can bring eternal life to an individual!
Also, notice in James 3:8-12 – "But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh."
21:23 – If you keep your mouth shut, you will stay out of trouble.
25:11 – Timely advice is as lovely as golden apples in a silver basket.
Often it is all in the timing!
25:12 – Valid criticism is as treasured by the one who heeds it as jewelry made from finest gold.
26:20 – Fire goes out for lack of fuel, and quarrels disappear when gossip stops.
26:21 – A quarrelsome person starts fights as easily as hot embers light charcoal or fire lights wood.
26:22 – What dainty morsels rumors are-- but they sink deep into one's heart.
26:28 – A lying tongue hates its victims, and flattery causes ruin.
Questions to Consider:
