Proverbs: The Wisdom of God for Everyday Life. Wednesday, August 3, 11

Transcription

1 Proverbs: The Wisdom of God for Everyday Life

2 Proverbs: The Wisdom of God for Everyday Life Wise Thinking about the Use of Words

3 Wise Thinking about the Use of Words If any one does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well... So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. Behold, how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire!...

4 Wise Thinking about the Use of Words But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father; and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way. Does a fountain send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water? James 3:2-11

5 Wise Thinking about the Use of Words The mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart. Mt. 12:34

6 Wise Thinking about the Use of Words What Not to do with Words 1. Don t Use Words for Lying Proverbs 4:24 Put away from you a deceitful mouth And put devious speech far from you. Proverbs 12:22 Lying lips are an abomination to the LORD, But those who deal faithfully are His delight.

7 Wise Thinking about the Use of Words What Not to do with Words 2. Don t Use Words to Gossip Proverbs 16:28 A perverse man spreads strife, And a slanderer separates intimate friends. Proverbs 20:19 He who goes about as a slanderer reveals secrets, Therefore do not associate with a gossip.

8 Proverbs 27:1-2 Do not boast about tomorrow, For you do not know what a day may bring forth. Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; A stranger, and not your own lips. Wise Thinking about the Use of Words What Not to do with Words 3. Don t Use Words for Boasting Proverbs 25:14 Like clouds and wind without rain Is a man who boasts of his gifts falsely.

9 The tongue is our most powerful weapon of manipulation. A frantic stream of words flow from us because we are in a constant process of adjusting our public image. We fear so deeply what we think other people see in us that we talk in order to straighten out their understanding. Richard Foster, Celebration of Discipline

10 Wise Thinking about the Use of Words What Not to do with Words 4. Don t Use Words to Flatter or Manipulate Proverbs 26:28 A lying tongue hates those it crushes, And a flattering mouth works ruin. Proverbs 29:5 A man who flatters his neighbor Is spreading a net for his steps.

11 Proverbs 6:12 A worthless person, a wicked man, Is the one who walks with a perverse mouth, Proverbs 15:4 A soothing tongue is a tree of life, But perversion in it crushes the spirit. Proverbs 19:1 Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity Than he who is perverse in speech and is a fool. Wise Thinking about the Use of Words What Not to do with Words 5. Don t Use Words for Perversity

12 Wise Thinking about the Use of Words What to do with Words

13 Proverbs 10:19-21; When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable, But he who restrains his lips is wise. The tongue of the righteous is as choice silver, The heart of the wicked is worth little. The lips of the righteous feed many, But fools die for lack of understanding. The mouth of the righteous flows with wisdom, But the perverted tongue will be cut out. The lips of the righteous bring forth what is acceptable, But the mouth of the wicked what is perverted.

14 Proverbs 12:25 Anxiety in a man s heart weighs it down, But a good word makes it glad. Proverbs 15:23 A man has joy in an apt answer, And how delightful is a timely word! Proverbs 16:24 Pleasant words are a honeycomb, Sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. Proverbs 15:1 A gentle answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger.

15 Proverbs 17:28 Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise; When he closes his lips, he is considered prudent. Proverbs 18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit. Proverbs 21:23 He who guards his mouth and his tongue, Guards his soul from troubles. Proverbs 29:20 Do you see a man who is hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

16 Ephesians 4:29 Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear. Colossians 4:6 Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.