August 10, 2023
He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit. Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding. Proverbs 17:27-28
We live in a world of many words. Like most, your life is probably inundated with personal conversations as well as tweeting, posting, texting, emailing, etc. Overwhelmed with conversation you may feel the urge to always have something to say. A response to every comment or an answer to every question. To make matters worse, our fast-paced society encourages hurried and thoughtless replies, which often lead to heated discussions, mistaken conclusions, and hurt feelings.
This proverb encourages you to use your words sparingly and to choose them wisely so that your wisdom and understanding will make a difference.
There are two ways your wisdom and understanding may be noticed.
Controlled tongue: A wise person will slow down and think before speaking. Responses will be thought out and filled with meaning, not just rattled off without any consideration. This applies to verbal words as well as written or typed comments and includes face to face communication and social media interactions. When it comes to conversation, more is not always best. One well-placed word can be extremely powerful. It’s best to slow down and respond in the Spirit instead of reacting in the flesh. Let the Lord direct your words.
Composed spirit: This refers to a ‘cool’ spirit, as opposed to a ‘heated’ one. A composed spirit is not swayed by emotions or prone to angry outbursts. It’s a spirit that is generous and gracious, making a person easy to get along with and a joy to be around. By submitting to the direction of the Holy Spirit you will have a composed spirit.
To make the point, the proverb tells us that even a foolish person will come across as wise when words are sparse and well-chosen.
If followed, the teaching found in this passage will strengthen your relationships and enable you to be a blessing to others.
Thanks for reading…
Pastor Ramirez