WISE WORDS (1)

“There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword, but the TONGUE of the WISE promotes health" – Proverbs 12:18

The Wisdom of God for the Winning Life is reflected through WISE WORDS: “There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword, but the TONGUE of the WISE promotes health” (Pro.12:18). A key theme throughout the book of Proverbs is Power in the Tongue: “Death and life are in the POWER of the TONGUE, and those who love it will eat its fruits” (Pro.18:21). James says, “With it (the tongue) we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so” (Jam. 3:9-10). Let’s examine Four characteristics of Words of the Wise.

The Wise speak Truth: “He who SPEAKS TRUTH declares righteousness, but a false witness, deceit... The REUTHFUL LIP shall be established forever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment... Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who deal truthfully are His delight” (vv.17, 19, 22). Wisdom cannot be divorced from Truth!

The Wise speak Gracious and Pleasant Words: “Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the bones” (Pro.16:24). Colossians 4:6 says, “Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.” Good communication impacts personal, relational, and communal health. Words have power to enliven the soul. Gracious words function like medicine to the sick soul: “Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, but a good word makes it glad” (v.25). It’s helpful to reflect at the end of each day, on our use of words; to think through conversations and examine if our words were edifying. Did we say too much? Did we leave words unsaid?

The Wise speak and create Life: “The mouth of the righteous is a well of life, but violence covers the mouth of the wicked” (Pro.10:11). Our God-given Power of Speech reflects His Divine Image. God speaks and creates life. We can also speak and create or give life. God has given us the power to speak life into wearied souls. The most obvious way we speak life is to speak the gospel: “But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts” (1The.2:4). The Gospel brings Life. Our lips should constantly extol the Gospel, for this pleases God who tests our hearts.

The Wise speak Scripture-governed Words. There are two practical questions that we can ask to improve communication with others.

First is: “Should I say anything?” – “He who guards his mouth preserves his life, but he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction” (Pro.13:3). It is so easy to get in trouble by not practicing restraint: “Whoever guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from troubles” (Pro.21:23). It’s not unusual for us to have experienced regret after quickly saying something foolish only to realize we can never take what we said back. Training our minds to ask the question, “Should I say anything?” will help us grow in much needed restraint in our communication. We do not need to speak into every situation. We can intentionally speak life by first asking if we should speak at all. 

Second is: “What is the right word to say?” – “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver...A man has joy by the answer of his mouth, and a word spoken in due season, how good it is!” (Pro.25:11,23). After discovering if we should say anything, we then think through what to say. The goal is to speak life-giving gracious words, not just to voice our opinions. We want to speak to bring joy to others. God is able to touch and transform our Tongues to speak WISE WORDS – gracious, pleasant, life-giving, and Scripture-governed.