Wisdom - Discernment in Action
The right word at the right time—beautiful!"
Proverbs 15:23 MSG
[This is the 15th message in this series]
In this series we are highlighting two-liner verses from the Book of Proverbs.
Discerning
In the previous lesson from this series, we have delved deep on discernment We shall continue on with this and look at this gift of the Holy Spirit in action.
Words
There is an old saying that goes like:
Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me.
This is actually a common day proverb. It has been around for a long time, but largely inaccurate. [It is human made]
Our words have real and lasting power. Words have the ability to build up and the power to tear down. It is a tool and a weapon.
What we are now or where we are at, are largely shaped by the words we have said in the past, or the words spoken by others.
Joy
A good word can encourage. It can lift people up. It can turn someone's life around. It can bring healing, mind, body and spirit. It gives joy. It brings harmony and unity. It can prophesy a good future. It is light, to guide our way. It is salt, it preserves. It gives life.
And discernment is having that gift to say the right word at just the right time. And it is also the grace to keep idle words from slipping out of our mouths.
This is why we have that other saying:
If we have nothing better to say, don't say it.
[It is far better than having to say the wrong thing at the wrong time and make matters worse]
Jesus even warned us that humankind will give an account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken.
Opposite Effect
We have this adage because Scriptures tell us that with our words we can either bless or with our words we can curse (depending on the spirit who is guiding us).
When we don't have the Spirit of God and if we have a spirit other than the Holy Spirit, our words cause chaos, they divide, they slander, they manipulate, they twist the truth, they have the power to make people give up, to quit, to scatter, to hide, to retaliate, to start wars and to kill.
People under the influence of a wicked spirit have that knack to say the wrong thing at just about the worst possible time in the worst possible way. It comes easy to them and it is not by accident but it is by design and with evil intent.
And not that those people who do these things have foreknowledge. But it is the spirit manipulating them in the background.
And so again the gift of discerment would give us the ability to "see' all this and discern what is happening behind the scenes.
Build Up
This couplet is stated like so on another translation:
"A man takes joy in a fitting reply—and how good is a timely word!"
This is 100% accurate. The fruit of our words is the tangible and visible evidence of the spirit who is in us.
When we build people up, if other people hear our words and they smile, when they seek our advice and if we make them laugh, then that is good fruit.
Galatians 5:22
The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
Daily congenial conversations are a blessing, it is medicine to our minds, souls and bodies.
The right word at the right time is a gift of God, a gift of the Holy Spirit.
[Let us not forget, the whole universe was made through the Word of God! Heaven and earth will pass away, but God's Word will never pass away.]
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