"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." (Proverbs 10:20-21)
As we continue our journey through the book of Proverbs, we see that our speech is a topic that is covered quite extensively in the book. After looking at controlling our tongue and not speaking without first thinking about whether or not it is wise to speak, we now look at the next important aspect of our speech, that being the content of what we say.
A Walking Encyclopaedia
Have you ever met a person who seems to be a walking encyclopaedia? No matter what subject you are talking about they seem to have a trivial comment or piece of knowledge about the subject that to you seems totally useless? Whether it be the weather, sport, or politics, they are able to tell you something trivial and insignificant about the subject that really has no real bearing on the discussion or is in the least bit interesting?
Or what about the person who always seems to bring themselves into the subject? You make a comment about the weather or discuss devastating floods in another part of the world and then they turn it around and tell you a story about how they were once trapped somewhere as a result of floods? Or you comment about a how good a meal was and they tell you how they once cooked a Christmas feast for a hundred people?
These kinds of people often speak on subjects that have little or no interest to us and they seem oblivious to that fact. It would be rude to tell them to keep quiet. Rather we need to be humble, listen to them and respond appropriately. However, we need to be on guard to not allow ourselves to fall into the same trap.
Speak Wisdom
The encouragement from our verses in Proverbs above tell us that the tongue of a godly person is like choice silver. Silver is not a metal that one would find just lying on the ground. One first has to locate iron ore deposits, which are then mined. That iron ore then goes through one of two processes, smelting or chemical leaching, in order for the silver to be extracted.
This process takes time, and the amount of silver extracted from the ore is so small compared to the size of the original pieces of iron ore that it is extracted from, but the silver that is extracted is 99.9% pure. One requires patience, skill and knowledge to extract the silver.
The same is true of our words. We must not just blurt out things thinking that other people will find what we have to say as interesting as we do. We need to refine what we say, testing our own words to make sure that we are speaking wisdom to other people, wisdom that is as pure as possible. And, as with choice silver, the one who speaks this way is rare. You will not find these kinds of people wherever you go. Many prefer to speak of themselves, or at least of subjects that interest them.
From the Heart
Think about the words that you are using. Are they hurtful, selfish, demeaning or trivial? Do they destroy or do they build up? And think also about the subject matter. Do you use gossip or slander other people, criticising everything others say and do? Or do you seek to encourage others and lovingly help them along life's path?
And as you think about your speech, think about Jesus' words in Matthew 12:34, "For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart." The things you talk about, the words you use, are all a reflection of what is going on in your heart. They reflect the god that you serve. If you speak more of self or only about what interests you, then you are serving self. But if you speak to build others up and are speaking the truths of God's Word, then you are showing others that you truly desire to worship the Almighty God. How pure is your silver?
Just a Thought!
© 2012
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