Silence is Golden

This morning I was reading in Proverbs 17. I have said in the past that I try to read a Proverbs a day, corresponding with the date. I think that this has got to be one of my favorite books of the Bible! Even though I am reading through it each month, there is always something that strikes me within each chapter differently than it did the month before.

Big surprise, this mornings epiphany has to do with me mouth! We know the value of our words, and yet we still continue to throw them around and speak them without much thought. Not only do we speak words that are unkind and hurtful, but we also listen to them from other as well. After all, no one likes to say, “Please don’t talk like that. It’s wrong.”

As women, we speak thousands of words a day! With today’s technology, maybe you text them, or Facebook them instead of actually speaking them. I just read an article saying that people are more honest through text message. However, our honesty still needs to be out of love; sometimes the truth hurts. It doesn’t mean we need to add our brutal words on top of that (but that’s a post for another day!)

“An evildoer gives heed to false lips;
A liar listens eagerly to a spiteful tongue.” Proverbs 17.4

So, who am I? Am I the evildoer, and liar who listens to the lies of others, or the spiteful tongue of a friend? Am I the one who is speaking falsely, or with malicious words? Could I be so bold as to be the one who corrects someone when their speech is out of line, according to God’s word?!

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“He who has knowledge spares his words,
And a man of understanding is of a calm spirit.

Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace;

When he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive.” Proverbs 17.27-28

He who has knowledge….

Hmm. I do not always portray or act as if I have knowledge. Too often I play the fool and let me words fly. I want the Holy Spirit to continue His work in me when it comes to my speech. And I do understand, that starts with the heart. I want to show the knowledge and understanding given to me by the Spirit. Especially when it comes to the way I use my words.

Sometimes, silence is golden.

Let us have the wisdom and knowledge to know when to stay silent, and when to speak up!

Blessings,