Words Guided by Wisdom

Jesus and the Just Reign of God
Live Justly in the Reign of God
Control Your Speech

Proverbs 18:2-13

The Message

² Fools care nothing for thoughtful discourse;
    all they do is run off at the mouth.

³ When wickedness arrives, shame’s not far behind;
    contempt for life is contemptible.

⁴ Many words rush along like rivers in flood,
    but deep wisdom flows up from artesian springs.

⁵ It’s not right to go easy on the guilty,
    or come down hard on the innocent.

⁶ The words of a fool start fights;
    do him a favor and gag him.

⁷ Fools are undone by their big mouths;
    their souls are crushed by their words.

⁸ Listening to gossip is like eating cheap candy;
    do you really want junk like that in your belly?

⁹ Slack habits and sloppy work
    are as bad as vandalism.

¹⁰ God’s name is a place of protection—
    good people can run there and be safe.

¹¹ The rich think their wealth protects them;
    they imagine themselves safe behind it.

¹² Pride first, then the crash,
    but humility is precursor to honor.

¹³ Answering before listening
    is both stupid and rude.

 
For Reflection

On television, radio, in printed media and the unaccountable and too numerous internet sites, we are bombarded with self-serving babble, innuendo, inference, half truths and outright lies.  Truths are argued in technical language only a few can fully comprehend.  Words and images are capable of great harm and great good.  Today, as perhaps never before we are faced uncountable numbers of information and so few references for understanding.  We seem to be caught in a whirlpool of of babble.

Words are sacred.  This realization is crucial -- even more so in an increasingly secular society.  Of course we need to watch our words so that they do no harm.  But we also have a responsibility to judge the words and actions of others so that we are not caught up in the truthlessness of our culture where say anything to achieve an end is common place.  God provides the standards for measuring truth and acting in truth.  Does the message lead to justice?  Does it reveal compassion?  Is it merciful?  Does the communication meet the standard of liberty, love others as you do love yourself. Does the message lead us toward the God of our faith, or does it separate us from the Kingdom of God?

Pray

for the wisdom to separate the Godly intentions from the unGodly.  Pray for those whose talk is self-serving at the expense of others.  Pray that your talk is filled with God-centered love and humility. Pray that God will help you hold your words sacred in God's service.