Pr Wilson Reminds Us to be Careful with Our Words

“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me,” goes the childhood nursery rhyme. But as we all know, this little saying isn’t exactly true. Words can and do hurt—often for a very long time. Words are very important. The book of Proverbs is filled with practical truth and wisdom regarding so many aspects of life, including wisdom about words. In Proverbs 12 we read the following gems: “There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword, but the tongue of the wise promotes health” (vs. 18); “Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who deal truthfully are His delight” (vs. 22); “A prudent man conceals knowledge, but the heart of fools proclaims foolishness” (vs. 23). The Proverbs also contain many promises, such as: “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger (Pr. 15:1) and “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” (Pr. 17:27,28). Today more than ever, we need kind, courteous Christians–especially in the world of social media and other instantaneous forms of public communication! It’s so easy to respond immediately to something we find upsetting on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or some other channel. But the Lord asks us to pass everything—every thought, every word, every Tweet, every post—through the filter of His wisdom and grace. And Christian tact and grace isn’t just for public forums: it actually begins in the home. How do we speak to our spouse and children? To parents, brothers, or sisters? In the workplace, how do we respond when under pressure? In Zoom meetings, texts, phone conversations, emails, and other forms of communication, are we truly using Christian tact in the way we respond to others? Jesus is our model. We read in The Desire of Ages: “Christ Himself did not suppress one word of truth, but He spoke it always in love. He exercised the greatest tact, and thoughtful, kind attention . . . He was never rude, never needlessly spoke a severe word, never gave needless pain to a sensitive soul.” It’s so important that we represent our Lord publicly, and in private, with the right demeanor and a sweet, humble spirit. This can only come as we are in daily communion with Him, asking for the indwelling of His Spirit to provide the revival and reformation we need today. As we face the closing events of earth’s history, may we speak the truth in tones of conviction, but always with Christian tact and grace, all through the power of the Holy Spirit living in us. Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVYEzaMJTx8