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Song: What A Friend We Have In Jesus
Scripture: Proverbs 15:1-4
The wise man has provided in this context some rules for guarding our conversation today.
Don’t goad an angry ox. When confrontation comes and the other party has lost its temper, don’t add to the fire. You’ll just make them burn hotter and make the situation worse. No matter how difficult, a gentle answer, a controlled response, a kind word is a better choice.
Wisdom flows, but folly gushes. The sign of the fool is that he can’t help but speak. But he doesn’t just speak—he spouts. He talks incessantly about everything. The counsel of the wise has a steadiness, even a reservation about it. It doesn’t flood the hearers. He makes knowledge acceptable by the way he presents it. In fact, his listeners want more when he’s through.
Speak sound words. There is power in the tongue. Case in the point: the gospel. The good news is the power unto salvation. Words can heal and words can injure. An encouraging word, like a tree of life, can give shade and rest to the listener long after the speaker is departed. But a perverted tongue can crush the spirit of the listener, and leave scars and bitterness that last a lifetime.
Let wisdom have its way in your words today. Use these rules to direct your speech, and you’ll handle confrontation, information exchange, and the art of persuasion in a splendid fashion.
Jason Moore
