WordsProverbs

Today we will look at:  The Power of Our Words  The Wise Use of Our Words  The Judgment of Our Words

 The Proverbs teach us that our words have tremendous power for both good as well as evil: Death and life are in the power of the tongue… (18:21a)

 Our words have the power to wound others and our words have the power to heal those who have been wounded:  There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. (12:18)  Our words have the power to destroy relationships within the community:  A perverse man stirs up dissension, and a gossip separates close friends. (16:28 NIV)

 That’s why we’re told in the New Testament:  Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. (Eph. 4:29 NIV)

 Not only do our words have the power to effect others, but the words we speak will have an impact on how things go for us as well:  An evil man is trapped by his sinful talk, but a righteous man escapes trouble. From the fruit of his lips a man is filled with good things as surely as the work of his hands rewards him. (12:13-14 NIV)

 As James points out, our tongue may be a small part of our body, but it can have a big effect on our life and the lives of those around us:  If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check. When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! (James 3:2b-5 NIV)

 The proverbs promise that those who learn to love the power of the tongue, and learn to speak wisely will experience great satisfaction in life:  From the fruit of a man's mouth his stomach is satisfied; he is satisfied by the yield of his lips. Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits. (18:20-21)

*Five characteristics of wise speech:  Truthful and Honest Speech Rather than Deceptiveness  Kind and Gentle Speech Rather than Harshness  Wise and Apt Speech Rather than Carelessness  Forthright and Courageous Speech Rather than Gossip  Economic Speech Rather than Impulsiveness *Taken from Tim Keller’ s sermon on Words in the Proverbs

We Need Truthful and Honest Speech Rather than Deceptiveness:  A truthful witness gives honest testimony, but a false witness tells lies. (12:17 NIV)  Deceit is in the heart of those who plot evil, but those who promote peace have joy. (12:20 NET)  Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man, but afterward his mouth will be full of gravel. (20:17)

We Need Kind and Gentle Speech Rather than Harshness:  A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. (15:1 NIV)  [A gentle answer ] connotes a response that in both substance and style soothes and comforts the listener. This thoughtful, compassionate reaction to the opponent without compromising truth “turns back” his “wrath” due to his felt wrong and so restores his good temper and good sense. (Waltke on Proverbs 15:1)

We Need Kind and Gentle Speech Rather than Harshness:  Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone. (25:15 NIV)  Bones are the most rigid body parts inside of a person, and fracturing the bones here refers to breaking down the deepest, most hardened resistance to an idea a person may possess. (Waltke on Proverbs 25:25)  Here’s how you can tell whether you’re being gentle in what you’re saying: when the listener says, “I don’t want to hear what this person is telling me, but it’s very obvious that this person loves me, and it’s painful for this person to say this to me.” (Keller, Sermon on Proverbs)

We Need Wise and Apt Speech Rather than Carelessness:  The lips of the righteous know what is fitting, but the mouth of the wicked only what is perverse. (10:32 NIV)  The word “ fitting ” means “delightful”. You choose your words to fit the sensibilities of the listener. So that your words are moving, attractive.  A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver. (25:11 NIV)  The word “ apt ” has to do with timing. Your word may be true, but if it’s at the wrong time, it won’t be listened to. It’s not apt!  A person has joy in giving an appropriate answer, and a word at the right time– how good it is! (15:23 NET)

We Need Forthright and Courageous Speech Rather than Slander and Lies:  The one who conceals hatred has lying lips, and whoever utters slander is a fool. (10:18)  An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips (24:26 NIV)  Keller makes the following observations on this point:  If you’re a truthful, direct person, you tend to not work enough on the kindness, the gentleness and the aptness.  But if you’re really concerned about kindness, gentleness, and aptness there’s a tendency not to be transparent and open and direct  And you die without both kinds of words – we need both kinds of words.

We Need Economic Speech Rather than Impulsiveness:  When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent. (10:19)  Whoever restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding. Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent. (17:27-28)

 We’ve looked at how to be wise in what we say, but ultimately, all of us will continue to say sinful, unwise things. Why?  If something sinful comes out of our mouth, it’s because there was something sinful in our heart to begin with!  Or as Jesus once said, it’s out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. (Mat 12:34 NIV)  Which means we’re in trouble, because Jesus also said:  I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned." (Mat 12:36-37)

 That’s why we need to repent of our sin and turn to Jesus, so that we may come to know him not just as our Judge, but our Savior.  John records the words of Jesus in chapter 5, where he says:  Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. "Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. (John 5:24-25).