Morning Dew
A soft answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger. The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, But the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness. - Proverbs 15:1-2
It has been said that words don't leave marks on the body. But let no one get it twisted, harsh words leave scars on the psyche. The Bible says they stir up anger.
It is important for us to consider very carefully the kind of words that our tongues form, and the things that proceed from our mouths. It is apparent from the text above that the words that proceed regularly from our mouths determine which side of the spectrum we fall -- whether wise or foolish. Class, status, degrees etc. have nothing to do with this. As much as there are wise ones, there are also many foolish professors out there, many unwise kings, governors or presidents, and many 'money-miss-road'. In same vein, as much as there are many unwise ones, you also find lowly men and women whose tongues rightly use knowledge, a simple definition of wisdom.
While wisdom is an internal character-trait, but its outworking or exhibition is determinable in the words that proceed from the tongue of the possessor. The same goes for foolishness. "The tongue of fools pours forth foolishness", the Bible says.
The Bible counsels, "Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man." (Colossians 4:6). This should be the aspiration of every child of God: always remembering that our words aren't neutral, they will leave scars or they will serve as ladders.
Let us always attempt soft answers, soft responses, soft feedbacks. Even as we rightly report or justly tell on someone, endeavor that it be in soft tones with the aim of a second chance for the offender, not with an end-goal of destruction. This is God's ideal for His children.
Prayer Point: Loving Jesus, help us to think like You, act like You and speak like You. Help us to cultivate the habit of a soft answer which turns away wrath. Change us from our nature of harsh and careless words that engender strife. May we be able to live up to Your ideal through Your Holy Spirit, we ask in Your matchless name. Amen.
It has been said that words don't leave marks on the body. But let no one get it twisted, harsh words leave scars on the psyche. The Bible says they stir up anger.
It is important for us to consider very carefully the kind of words that our tongues form, and the things that proceed from our mouths. It is apparent from the text above that the words that proceed regularly from our mouths determine which side of the spectrum we fall -- whether wise or foolish. Class, status, degrees etc. have nothing to do with this. As much as there are wise ones, there are also many foolish professors out there, many unwise kings, governors or presidents, and many 'money-miss-road'. In same vein, as much as there are many unwise ones, you also find lowly men and women whose tongues rightly use knowledge, a simple definition of wisdom.
While wisdom is an internal character-trait, but its outworking or exhibition is determinable in the words that proceed from the tongue of the possessor. The same goes for foolishness. "The tongue of fools pours forth foolishness", the Bible says.
The Bible counsels, "Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man." (Colossians 4:6). This should be the aspiration of every child of God: always remembering that our words aren't neutral, they will leave scars or they will serve as ladders.
Let us always attempt soft answers, soft responses, soft feedbacks. Even as we rightly report or justly tell on someone, endeavor that it be in soft tones with the aim of a second chance for the offender, not with an end-goal of destruction. This is God's ideal for His children.
Prayer Point: Loving Jesus, help us to think like You, act like You and speak like You. Help us to cultivate the habit of a soft answer which turns away wrath. Change us from our nature of harsh and careless words that engender strife. May we be able to live up to Your ideal through Your Holy Spirit, we ask in Your matchless name. Amen.