Proverbs on the Tongue
(Proverbs 15:1, 27:6, 25:11, 22:11, 16:1)
God’s Wisdom concerning our words, teaches us to…
1) Be gentle- Proverbs 15:1
· Soft- tender, delicate, soft; (implying weakness of undeveloped character)
o Turns away wrath: venom, fire,
§ Turns away- protects you and them from pain
o May take time
“Surely your brother Esau comforts himself concerning you by intending to kill you. ?43?Now therefore, my son, obey my voice: arise, flee to my brother Laban in Haran. And stay with him a few days, until your brother’s fury turns away” ~ Genesis 27: (42-44)
o Will take trust in God
“The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, like the rivers of water, he turns it wherever He wishes.” Proverbs 21:1
2) Be genuine- Proverbs 27:6
· Faithful- trustworthy, confirmed by past proof
· Wounds- Cam Martin’s shoulder
· Kisses are deceitful/excessive
o Concerned about the person’s long term progress
Galatians 6:1-5- “Bear one another’s burdens” and “each one shall bear his own load”- Difference between a load and a burden?
- Harm by always helping. Dad never letting go of son on bike.
3) Be good stewards- Proverbs 25:11
· Value factor: What happens to the value of gold as the supply rises?
· Virtue factor- you actually lose more by not talking; but your loss becomes their gain
· Vacancy factor- fitly spoken, speak to needs. (Why the gospel matters and we should share it often)
4) Be gracious- Proverbs 22:11
· Purity of heart- this speaks to the root of the problem
o 1 John 1:9- Christ alone can cleanse our hearts
· When we have experienced God’s grace, we are more apt to dispense God’s grace in our lives
“You are My friends if you do whatever I command you”.
~King of kings, John 15:14
· Cf. Colossians 3:16
5) Be God-led- Proverbs 16:1
· Cf. Ephesians 5:18-21
May we never forget…
“No man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.” ~James 3:8
Yet may we find hope in the words of Jesus that speak truth in the realm of the tongue as well…
“With God all things are possible” ~Matthew 19:26b