"A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievious words stir up anger" Proverbs 15:1.
This has been one of my most recent quoted Bible verses of late. In counseling with some precious people in our church that have gone through some difficulties of late I have encouraged them to remember this verse! We need to pray that God would help us to "bridle" not only our tongues, but also the attitude by which words are said. As I tell folks often, "It’s not so much what you say, but how you say it". Let’s make sure that tongues give a SOFT ANSWER.
"The tongues of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness". Proverbs 15:2
Someone has rightly said wisdom has nothing to do with what you know, but how you use what you know! It seems that this verse backs up this thought. Let us determine by God’s grace that we are going to use knowledge the right way! One of the ways that we do that is through our tongue--the words that we speak! How are you using what you know to be: a witness, an encouragement, a challenge, an edifier, a voice crying out against sin, etc. Lets make sure that our tonuges are being used for RIGHT! The "flip-side" is fools use their tongues to POUR OUT foolishness!
"A wholesome tongue is a tree of life..." Proverbs 15:4a
In another passage the Bible says that life and death are in the power of the tongue! James says that if we can bridle our tongue we can bridle our whole body! It can produce blessing or cursing! How can our tongues be a "tree of life"! Through our tongues we can proclaim the Good News of Christ! Through our tongues we can condemn sin while offering hope to the sinner! With our tongues we can fulfill the Great Comission to preach the Gospel and disciple the converts. Let’s make sure that from our tongues come the WORDS OF LIFE!
So how is your tongue? Does it give soft answers even when someone is screaming? Does it use knowledge to benefit your spouse, your children, your co-workers, your brothers and sisters in Christ? Is your tongue a "tree of life"? May we all allow the Holy Spirit to do a "tongue check-up" today!
