SOMETIMES IT IS BETTER FOR US NOT TO SPEAK

Proclamation:

“The one who has knowledge uses words with restraint, and whoever has understanding is even-tempered.  Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent, and discerning if they hold their tongues.”  Proverbs 17:27-28 (NIV)

Explanation:

This proverb was written by King Solomon under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  Here he states that the wise person will think before he speaks and he is careful when he speaks.  The wise man also controls his temper as well as his tongue.  A fool can be mistaken for someone wise if he keeps quiet and holds his tongue.

Application:

It has been said that it is better to be thought of as foolish, than to open ones mouth and remove all doubt.  Those who are wise think a lot and say very little.  It is good to communicate and share ones knowledge at the proper time and place.  However, bragging and boasting, or speaking in an ostentatious way is never appropriate.  Additionally, we do not have to offer our opinion on every topic which is discussed.  It is also never a good idea to speak hastily, or when angry, without giving some thought to what you are about to say.  Our words should always be “… seasoned with salt …” so that they will be helpful to the person we are speaking to. (Colossians 4:6)  Even the truth does not always need to be spoken if it is not going to be helpful.

A WISE PERSON WILL ALWAYS LISTEN TO ADVISE

Proclamation:

“The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice.  Fools show their annoyance at once, but the prudent overlook an insult.”  Proverbs 12:15-16 (NIV)

Explanation:

This proverb was written by King Solomon under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  This twelfth proverb of Solomon continues the pattern which he started in the tenth proverb of presenting a series of seemingly unrelated sentences that compares and contrasts that which is good and righteous with that which is not.  This verse is a Biblical reference to Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, who refused to listen to the wise counsel of the older men in the kingdom which resulted in his downfall.

Application:

Those who think too highly of themselves will condemn the ideas and advice of others.  They think that only their ways are right and everybody else is wrong.  When they are annoyed, they react and speak without thinking.  They fail to exercise any degree of self-control.  It is not wise to hastily express ones anger. (Ecclesiastes 7:9)  It is always better for us if we think, and pray, before we speak or act.  The prudent person will frequently keep their thoughts to themselves. (Proverbs 12:23)

THINK BEFORE YOU SPEAK

Proclamation:

"Do you see a man who speaks in haste?  There is more hope for a fool than for him." Proverbs 29:20 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by King Solomon, who was blessed to be the wisest man ever. (1 Chronicles 1:11-12)  Words spoken in haste are rarely helpful.  Solomon was encouraging the people of God to think before they speak.

Application:

Some people say whatever comes to their mind.  "Whatever come up, comes out."  As their thoughts occur they are uttered, without the benefit of being processed or filtered by their brain.  Speaking without thinking is not a very good idea, especially when we are angry.  "… He who restrains his lips is wise." (Proverbs 10:19 KJV) or, as translated in a different version of The Bible, "... He who holds his tongue is wise." (Proverbs 10:19 NIV)  Some things that we think are better off if they are left unspoken.  If what we were going to say is not going to help someone, then we should probably keep that thought to ourselves.  It is a good practice to always think before you speak.

BE QUICK TO LISTEN AND BE SLOW TO SPEAK

Proclamation:

"My dear brothers, take note of this; everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.  Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent, and humbly accept The Word planted in you, which can save you." James 1:19-21 (NIV)

Explanation:

These are The Holy Spirit inspired words of James, the half-brother of Jesus, who became a pillar of the early Church after the resurrection of Christ.  James wrote to the people of God to provide them with guidance regarding their behavior.  He was encouraging them to exercise self-control, to listen to others more often, and to be think before they speak or become angry.  He told them that they should not say or do anything which would displease God, and they should humbly accept and display The Word of God, and The Holy Spirit of God, which was within them.

Application:

It has been said that the reason we have two ears and one mouth, is that maybe we ae supposed to spend twice as much time listening as we do talking. (Author unknown)  James encouraged believers to listen to others, but he did not say that they should believe everything that they hear.  He said believers should be slow to speak, meaning that we should hear what the other person has to say before we respond.  Additionally, we should think about what they said and what we are going to say, before we speak.  James said that we should be slow to get angry, because when we get angry, we often say and do things which are not consistent with the Christ-like life that we should live.  We also should always be ready to listen to The Word of God, and we should welcome every opportunity to gain a better understanding of it.  We should be very cautious and slow to teach or tell others about The Word of God without first giving our words careful consideration and much thought, least we mis-speak.  If The Word of God is within us, then we should let it shine forth for others to see by our actions, which will speak much louder than our words.

WE SHOULD THINK BEFORE WE SPEAK

Proclamation:

"He who guards his lips guards his life, but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin."  Proverbs 13:3 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words of King Solomon, the wisest man to ever live, were written under the inspiration of The Holy Spirit of God to the people of God to share his insights on human behavior and how believers should conduct themselves.  His point here was that believers should control their tongue, and not speak everything they think.  Harsh and rash words will not produce anything good.  Those who refuse to engage their brain before they speak will do more harm than good.  They will usually end up creating a far worse situation by speaking without first thinking.

Application:

There is a very familiar and popular quote which says, "Think before you speak." (Unknown)  We should engage our brain before we engage our mouth.  Most of us would be better off if we would put this into practice.  However, there is another quote based upon a similar principal which takes this to a somewhat higher level.  “If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all." (Thumper, the rabbit, in the Disney animated film entitled "Bambi".  He may not be the original author, but that was the first time that I heard it)  As believers before we speak we should ask ourselves these three questions. One, is it truthful?  Two, is it helpful?  Three, is it kind?  If what we were going to say is untruthful, we should forget it.  If it is not going to help the person, or the situation, we should keep it to ourselves.  If it is not kind, or is insensitive, it is better left unsaid.  We should always let our speech be filled with the grace of God. (Colossians 4:6)  Some of the things that we say just do not need to be said.  We need to pray and ask God to help us control our words and our thoughts as well as our behavior.

We Should Think Before We Speak

"He who guards his lips guards his life, but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin."  Proverbs 13:3 (NIV)

These words of King Solomon, the wisest man to ever live, were written to the people of God to share his insights on human behavior and how believers should conduct themselves.  His point here was that believers should control their tongue, and not speak everything they think.  Those who do not engage their brain before they speak, will end up worse off for doing so.

There is a very familiar and popular quote which says, "Think before you speak." (Unknown)  Most of us would be better off it we would practice this.  However, there is another quote which says, "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all." (Thumper, the rabbit, in the Disney animated film entitled "Bambi")  (He may not be the original author, but that was the first time that I heard it)  Before we speak, we should ask ourselves these three questions. One, is it truthful?  Two, is it helpful?  Three, is it kind?  If what we were going to say is untruthful, we should forget it.  If it is not going to help the person, or the situation, we should keep it to ourselves.  If it is not kind, or is insensitive, it is better left unsaid.  We should always let our speech be filled with the grace of God. (Colossians 4:6)  Some things just do not need to be said.

We Must Control Our Tongue

"If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless."  James 1:26 (NIV)

This Holy Spirit inspired Word of God was written by James, the half brother of Jesus, to the believers in order to encourage them to think before they speak so that they would control their speech.  He stated that any religious or God fearing person who did not control his tongue was only deceiving himself and not honoring God.

It would also be better for us today if we would screen and filter our thoughts before we speak.  "Purity of heart is often revealed by controlled and proper speech." (John Mac Arthur)  Being involved in religious activities just to be seen by others is not worship and it does not honor God.  If our speech is about evil things or full of foul language, then we do not honor God.  If by our activities and words we present ourselves as God fearing people but in actuality we do not have that conviction within our hearts, then we are living a lie, and God knows the truth and will not be pleased.  Out of the mouth come the issues of the heart. (Matthew 12:34, Matthew 15:18, and Luke 6:45)   As we think and speak, so we really are. (Proverbs 23:7)  So let us think before we speak, and let us pray that the words of our mouth and the meditations of our heart will be acceptable in the sight of The Lord God. (Psalms 19:14)

We Speak What Is In Our Hearts

"No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit.  Each tree is recognized by its own fruit.  People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers.  The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart.  For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks."  Luke 6:43-45 (NIV)

Luke, the physician travelling companion and recorder of the Apostle Paul, wrote good fruit does not come from bad trees, and bad fruit does not come from good trees.  Likewise, the same is true for people.  The good or evil that is in a man's heart will come out of his mouth.

For as a man thinks, so is he. (Job 24:13-17)  "We may not be all that we think that we are, but what we think, is we are." (Author Unknown)  It has been said that it is not what a man does when others are watching that determines his character, but it is what he does when he is alone and thinks that no one sees him that determines who he really is.  We should be mindful of the fact that God sees all that we do (Job 34:21) and He knows our intentions. (Psalms 94:11, Matthew 9:4, Matthew 12:25, 1 Corinthians 3:20, and Hebrew 4:12)  That is why we should pray like King David prayed, that the words of our mouths and the meditation of our hearts would be acceptable in the sight of God. (Psalms 19:14)

Do Not Speak Foul Misleading Or Hurtful Words

"Put away perversity from your mouth; keep corrupt talk far from your lips."  Proverbs 4:24 (NIV)

King Solomon said that men should not speak perverse or corrupt language.  This included dishonest speech, foul language, and lies, as well as words without proper content, context, or purpose which would be displeasing to The Lord.

We really need to be very careful in choosing the words that we use when we speak.  All of our conversations should be pleasing to God's ears.  Intentionally taking words out of context, is to intentionally misrepresent the truth.  If the purpose of our conversation is anything other than to be truthful and helpful, then it should remain unspoken, and we should ask God to forgive us for our corrupt thoughts.  Remember, we will have to give an account for every word that we speak. (Matthew 12:36)  Our conversations should also be Christ-like.

God Hears And Answers The Righteous

"The heart of the righteous weighs its answers, but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil.  The Lord is far from the wicked but He hears the prayer of the righteous."  Proverbs 15:28-29 (NIV)

King Solomon, the wisest man ever, said that a righteous man thinks before he speaks, and then he said that The Lord hears the prayers only of the righteous.

It is always a good thing for us to consider what we are about to say, before we say it.  We should filter our thoughts, and not give utterance to all of them.  The Lord does not fellowship with the wicked.    However, The Lord is always near the righteous.  He hears and answers their prayers.  On our own, none of us are righteous. (Romans 3:10)  If we are righteous, it is because we are part of the "many" that were made righteous by His death on the cross. (Romans 5:19)  Just as righteousness was imputed to Abraham, it is also imputed to us, if we believe.   (Romans 4:24)  Because we believe, The Lord watches over us and hears our prayers. (1 Peter 3:12)  Because we believe, that makes our prayers powerful and effective. (James 5:16)