Wisdom & Words (Daily Encouragement)
The book of Proverbs has more to say on words than any other topic – there are over 90 Proverbs on how to speak. We talked about how words move in the direction of life or death. Our words have power to bring life or death, to build up or break down – to others and ourselves. Our Proverbs Bible Study offered some of those 90 to look up and look at closer. Read through the following passages on words – which ones resonate with you? Which would you like to grow in?
Proverbs 12:17–19
17 Whoever speaks the truth gives honest evidence,
but a false witness utters deceit.
18 There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts,
but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
19 Truthful lips endure forever,
but a lying tongue is but for a moment.
Proverbs 12:22
22 Lying lips are an abomination to the LORD,
but those who act faithfully are his delight.
Proverbs 12:25
25 Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down,
but a good word makes him glad.
Proverbs 14:23
23 In all toil there is profit,
but mere talk tends only to poverty.
Proverbs 15:1–4, 7
1A soft answer turns away wrath,
but a harsh word stirs up anger.
2 The tongue of the wise commends knowledge,
but the mouths of fools pour out folly.
3 The eyes of the LORD are in every place,
keeping watch on the evil and the good.
4 A gentle tongue is a tree of life,
but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.
7 The lips of the wise spread knowledge;
not so the hearts of fools.
Proverbs 17:4, 9, 27
4 An evildoer listens to wicked lips,
and a liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.
7 Fine speech is not becoming to a fool;
still less is false speech to a prince.
27 Whoever restrains his words has knowledge,
and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.
Proverbs 18:6–8
6 A fool’s lips walk into a fight,
and his mouth invites a beating.
7 A fool’s mouth is his ruin,
and his lips are a snare to his soul.
8 The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels;
they go down into the inner parts of the body.
Proverbs 20:15
15 There is gold and abundance of costly stones,
but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
Proverbs 29:11
11 A fool gives full vent to his spirit,
but a wise man quietly holds it back.
Proverbs 31:8–9
8 Open your mouth for the mute,
for the rights of all who are destitute.
9 Open your mouth, judge righteously,
defend the rights of the poor and needy.
Luke 6:43–45
43 “For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, 44 for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. 45 The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.
John 8:42–47
42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. 43 Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. 44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. 46 Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? 47 Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.”
James 3:4–13
4 Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. 5 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! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. 7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. 10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? 12 Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water. 13 Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.
The good news of the gospel reminds us that Jesus fulfilled all of these words for us and took the consequence of us not fulfilling upon himself on the cross. The gospel goes further and promises to give us a new heart and a new spirit that has the desire and power to use our words to move in the direction of life.
How can you be proactive this week (and beyond) to bring life to those around you with your words?
*join us this evening for our community group where we will discuss and encourage one another to be about this.