Proverbs - Wisdom and Kindness

Proverbs 31:26

She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.

Wisdom and Kindness

Two rules are given for our mouths – wisdom and kindness.  Our mouths should not pour forth the foolishness of anger and contentions.  Our mouths should not be quick to give advice based on emotions and human loyalty.  Our mouths should speak forth the counsel of God and having exposed ourselves to the Word of God on a regular basis it should be so.  Kindness should be the rule for EVERYTHING we say.  We should not only use the culturally acceptable polite words but use words that are soft and not so harsh.  Please and thank you should come out often and we should word things in such a way that does not intentionally provoke or tear down.  The Lord wants His gals to be wise and kind.  Oh Lord that we would open our mouths with wisdom and that kindness would the law by which we speak!

Proverbs - Don't Be Quick to Speak!

Proverbs 29:20

Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words? there is more hope of a fool than of him.

This is classic me.  I can just blurt something out and end up complicating things unnecessarily.  I will be the foolish woman who tears down my house if I am hasty with my words.  I will be worse off than a fool if I am a woman who is quick to speak.  That is quite scary!  Let us not be hasty in our words. Let us keep it in until afterwards and present our thoughts before the eyes of God until He leads us to speak.  Even if we have to stop and pray before we say something, let the pause bring a stillness and wisdom to the conversation. 

Proverbs - Keeping It In

Proverbs 29:11

A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards.

When we spill out all of what we think we are foolish women.  As foolish women we will tear down our homes.  There is a time and season for every purpose under heaven.  We don’t have to speak our minds; we can keep it in until the right time presents itself.  Sometimes we have good ideas and valid concerns but spoken at the wrong timing may actually bring about destruction and harm.  When our teenagers begin to speak to us we may have all kinds of things to say but we would be wise to keep it in until afterwards - afterwards when the emotions die down, afterwards when we have more information and afterwards when we have had time to test things against God’s Word.

Proverbs - Flattery is Foolish

Proverbs 29:5

A man that flattereth his neighbour spreadeth a net for his feet.

Flattery in the scriptures is not referring to genuine encouragement or praise.  Flattery is referring to a slanted word for hidden agendas.  If we say things to people with a motivation for gain we spread a net for our feet.  We must consider our words and seek to genuinely build up someone rather than puff them up.  We could be trying to gain a friend or someone’s respect.  This is dangerous business.  When we do this it is like setting ourselves up to be tangled in our words and relationships.  Let us rather seek to have words that are aimed by the Lord to bring life to those we speak.  Let us have clear paths by seeking to speak words that are rooted in truth and are separate from any individual gain.

Proverbs - Just Joking

Proverbs 26:18-19

As a mad man who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death,

So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am not I in sport?

Our culture enjoys teasing and joking.  Sometimes these can be very funny.  For example:

First Person:  Knock, knock

Second Person:  Who’s there?

First Person:  Control Freak.  Now you say “Control freak who?”

Jokes can really lighten things up and bring joy to our days, but teasing someone else has its inherent dangers.  We are told in this verse that saying something in jest is like a crazy person throwing hot coals, arrows and death.  When a crazy person throws something it could go anywhere.  It could hit something and it might not.  This is how it is with jesting and tricking another person.  It might wound them and it might not.  People come with a lot of baggage and previous wounds.  If our teasing hits them in a tender spot, they will be wounded.  Every time we joke around and then have to tell someone that we were kidding, we risk injuring someone.  Is it worth it?