Pro 25:15 By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.
Ouch! This smacks pretty much all of us. Sometimes it takes real patience when dealing with someone that is not of like persuasion, especially politicians. Note we are to speak with a soft tongue. I have been trying to work towards that myself, but old IFB ways sometimes flare up. Too many times our emotions make us use a hard tongue and that breaks relationships, but not bones of resistance.
This verse speaks of us persuading someone else, but what about when they are trying to persuade us?
Pro 15:
1 A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.
2 The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.
We need to speak a soft answer in a confident and calm manner. I know sometimes people say things that make your brain hurt, but still we need to use the soft answer. Anger ends dialogue and like a smart man, Chad Prather, recently said, exchanging jabs of who is the biggest pootie head is not profitable to either side. Let them get angry at truth, not the manner it is delivered in.
Let us learn to be wise and use our knowledge correctly rather let foolishness fueled by anger pour out of our mouths. Make God make it so in our lives! May we speak truth in love seeking to edify the hearer and heal where needed with mercy and grace! Maranatha!
