Proverbs 15

Bible Passage:  Proverbs 15

A friend of mine recently related her experience about someone she needed to exhort on some important issues pertaining to faith on the phone. The other party on the phone was yelling and raising voice when probed, clearly getting annoyed. My friend told me ‘…. It is not helping if I were to raise my voice too and shout back even though I felt like doing just that. I just advised her calmly and let her think about it…’

When our emotions were triggered through hurtful and rude words or actions, our instant reactions tend to defend through retaliation and it is convenient to think this is acceptable because the other party started it. However, the Scripture teaches us to uphold the peace and handle the situation and with meekness through soft answer.

“A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger” (Prov 15:1). We see of how Gideon’s good and soft words turned away the anger of Ephraimites in Judges 8:1-3. People who makes peace sows the fruit of righteousness (James 3:18).

Words are powerful as it could heal or break. “The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly….” (v2); “A wholesome tongue is a tree of life…” (v4).

The word ‘wholesome’ is commonly found in today’s advert where diet-conscious consumers were led to believe the goodness and healing effects of the product. A wholesome tongue speaks of goodness, disperse knowledge (see also v7), brings glad tidings and edifying words.  If we were to use our word wisely, it helps to comfort, counsel, edify and build someone up.

I am sure all of us were bothered or troubled one way or another because of something that someone said. Our reaction would be ‘how could he/she have said something like that’. In fact, a lot of strife, misunderstandings and discords were caused by ‘something that someone said’. I have also heard of how certain brethren have stopped attending services or fellowships because of ‘something that someone said’. I am sure none of us, as the children of God, would want to hurt others intentionally. We could only ask for God’s mercy to give us the wisdom to speak wisely so not to cause others to stumble because of our words.

I have taken the following three verses from this chapter for your thoughts, if any –

1. “…. A word spoken in due season, how good it is!” (v23)
2. “…. The words of the pure are pleasant.” (v26)
3. “The heart of the righteous studies how to answer….” (v28)

May God give us the wisdom to speak wisely.