Instead of Many Words - Proverbs 15-20
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The Monastery of Silence was led by an ancient Abbott, who took the brothers’ vow of silence very seriously. When Brother John entered the monastery and took his silence vow, the Abbot reminded him, “You are welcome here as long as you like, but you may not speak until I direct you to do so.”
Brother John lived in the monastery for a full year before the Abbot said to him, “Brother John, you have been here a year now, you may speak two words.”
Brother John said, “Hard bed.” So the Abbot got him a better bed.
The next year, Brother John was called by the Abbott. “You may say another two words, Brother John.”
“Cold food,” announced Brother John, so the Abbott promised the food would improve.
On his third anniversary at the monastery, the Abbott again called Brother John into his office. “You may say two more words today.”
“I quit,” announced Brother John.
“It is probably for the best,” said the Abbott. “All you have done since you got here is complain.”
I like that joke for this session because we are going to primarily talk about the words we speak and the importance they have in our daily living.
Proverbs talks a lot about the words that come from our mouth, but before we get into that I want to mention a couple thoughts from chapters 15-20.
Starting in chapter 10 we see many short, general expressions of commonsense wisdom. These quick little sayings run all the way to chapter 22.
In chapter 15 Solomon encourages his readers to have self-control. Especially when it comes to our words.
4 Kind words are good medicine,
but deceitful words
can really hurt.
Chapter 16 reminds us that we make plans, but the Lord has the final word in our lives.
1 We humans make plans,
but the Lord
has the final word.
In the middle of this chapter he mentions our words again.
24 Kind words are like honey—
they cheer you up
and make you feel strong.
Chapter 17 deals with the virtues of family harmony and honestly. He warns that people who plan evil with suffer consequences because God knows a persons heart.
Towards the end of this chapter we see again that Solomon mentions the words we speak and their importance in our lives. Even the lack of words is important.
27 It makes a lot of sense
to be a person of few words
and to stay calm.
28 Even fools seem smart
when they are quiet.
Chapter 18 is probably my favorite chapter of the reading this week and where we are going to focus our study for tonight. Solomon again talks about the words we speak and the power they hold.
21 Words can bring death or life!
Talk too much, and you will eat
everything you say.
Chapter 19 has a wide range of thoughts about personal integrity and wealth. My favorite nugget is in verse 1:
1 It’s better to be poor
and live right
than to be a stupid liar.
It's far better to be moral—and to have a reputation for honesty—than to have temporary wealth and be seen as a liar.
He reminds us at the end of this chapter that we would be wise to accept instruction because when we don’t we allow hardships into our life.
16 Obey the Lord’s teachings
and you will live—
disobey and you will die.
Chapter 20 continues these short little nuggets of wisdom for living. He talks about getting drunk and how nothing good comes from over indulging.
He continues to talk about dishonest business practices, gossip, greed, and laziness and how they are condemned as immoral and dangerous.
Here’s a proverb you might want to consider if you struggle in any of these areas:
30 A severe beating can knock all
of the evil out of you!
Here’s another translation that might say it better:
30 Sometimes it takes a painful experience to make us change our ways.
So, those are the chapters we read this week.
What stood out to you as you read through these chapters this week?
What stood out to you as you read through these chapters this week?
To me, there was a lot to digest. Honestly, you could spend hours thinking and studying most individual verses. It makes it difficult to pull out some thoughts for this session.
But as I read and take notes, there are a few things I want to point out to you concerning the power of our words.
The key verse I want to share with you is one that I just read and will read again:
21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
And those who love it will eat its fruit.
I remember as a kid I came home and told my mom that some kids were making fun of me for one reason or another and she told me something that probably everyone in this room has heard before:
“Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never hurt me.”
Is that true?
I believe words have power, and far more power to harm us than sticks or stones! Words can hit us deep down in our heart. They have the ability to build us up or break us down. We can remember the good words spoken to us and we can maybe more often remember the bad words spoken to us.
I was reading a commentary about this verse and it brought up an interesting thought that I wanted to share. But first I want to ask your opinion:
Why don’t animals have the ability to speak?
Why don’t animals have the ability to speak?
According to the commentary I was reading, the author said animals don’t speak because they weren’t created in the image of God. We were, therefore we speak. It’s a sign that God made us because God speaks - He speaks things to life. All of creation has been spoken into existence by God. Including you and I!
We had a husky dog one time who could mimic the words “I love you” but she wasn’t really speaking. In contrast, as a child grows, they get to the point where you can’t shut them up!
Words mark us a human made in the image of God.
If we are made in the image of God and words prove this fact, do we have the ability to create things with our words?
If we are made in the image of God and words prove this fact, do we have the ability to create things with our words?
We can’t speak worlds into existence or create miracles through our words, but I do believe we can create trust, form relationships, and build fellowships of like minded believers.
Unlike God we can also use our words to destroy trust, relationships, and fellowships of believers.
We can use our words to touch and heal a broken heart or we can use our words to break another persons heart.
The truth is that Solomon was right, our words matter! How many problems could be avoided if we chose our words more carefully? We underestimate the importance of the words we say.
In the church we might view the sin of adultery as a serious sin. And it really is. But rarely does the sin of adultery destroy and entire church. Gossip, on the other hand, is sometimes viewed as a little insignificant sin. But it has the power to destroy a church from the inside out!
In fact, we don’t view Gossip as sinful, we view it as something that needs to be done.
I’ve heard someone say: “I just need to get all this off my chest”. Then they completely let loose on the juiciest bit of gossip you’ve ever heard!
Proverbs has much to say on this topic, but here’s one verse to tide you over.
11 A fool vents all his feelings,
But a wise man holds them back.
We need to guard agains the lie that a little slip of the tongue won’t do much damage.
5 Our tongues are small too, and yet they brag about big things.
It takes only a spark to start a forest fire!
If we are wise we would take the words in Proverbs to heart and tame our words. In fact, we should turn our words toward things that are worthy.
Like I said earlier, Proverbs 10- 31 jump from one topic to another. But this topic of how we are to speak comes up so many times. In fact, the book of Proverbs has more to say about our words than anything else! There are over 90 proverbs about how we are to speak. It’s an important topic in this book of the Bible.
15 Gold there is, and rubies in abundance,
but lips that speak knowledge are a rare jewel.
What does it mean when the bible says “lips speaking knowledge are like a rare jewel”?
What does it mean when the bible says “lips speaking knowledge are like a rare jewel”?
That “the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel” means that knowledgeable, informed, intelligent words are rare and valuable in God’s eyes.
We’ve all listened to a person who obviously does not know what they are talking about. When they speak, their words aren’t like rare jewels…more like cow patties!
On the other hand, when a person knows their stuff, and they have something good to say, we can’t help but to listen and hang on every word.
It’s important not to speak just for the sake of speaking. We would find wisdom in this truth and guard our mouths.
God values a person who speaks life because they speak truth these people are like rare jewels.
We shouldn’t waste our time listening to people who don’t know what they are talking about, we should give our ear to those who know the truth.
It’s important to put the truth in our brains. In our world, everyone has a voice. Everyone has a blog, youtube, instagram, or some other way to get their ideas out into the world.
We must be careful to listen to people who are speaking in alignment to God’s word or else we will be distract or pushed off track.
Here’s a warning from proverbs about what we listen too:
4 Troublemakers listen
to troublemakers,
and liars listen to liars.
We need to understand that even just by listening to and tolerating evil actually makes us accomplices in the evil!
We lie to ourselves that we are not involved because we are only listening. But listeners are involved. Be careful what you listen to.
Think of it like this: A person can become a “garbage collector.” People come to you to unload because you’ll listen, sympathize, and provide a shoulder to cry on. If we don’t watch out we can become a hero to people who love to complain or have hurt feelings! The wisdom we find here reminds us that by listening to troublemakers we ourselves can become part of the problem.
In contrast this is who we should be: If a person comes to us and starts in criticizing another person how hard would it be to say “I don’t want to be involved in this, let’s go talk to that person!”
That’s a difficult thing to do, I know, because it means we have to DO something difficult.
Not to mention that fact that sometimes we do like to hear the gossip.
8 There’s nothing so delicious
as the taste of gossip!
It melts in your mouth.
It’s so tasty, but it corrupts the heart. Just by being a willing ear we are proving the condition of our own hearts.
Proverbs reminds us that we need to speak up when others are put down. We shouldn’t stay silent when someone else is being attacked.
Later in proverbs we find this important instruction:
8 Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves;
ensure justice for those being crushed.
9 Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless,
and see that they get justice.
We should seek the Lord for help in this area. We should repent and start down a new path of speaking life. Our words should be known to the world as words of hope, encouragement, and truth.
The verse that stood out to me most this week was Proverbs 18:21
21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
And those who love it will eat its fruit.
Can our words really bring death?
Can our words really bring death?
I think of all the kids who take their life. Many times it’s because they have been tormented by the words spoken by their peers.
Words have in impact on us! Jesus said something that I want to share with you:
36 I promise you that on the day of judgment, everyone will have to account for every careless word they have spoken.
God keeps a record of the words we have spoken. Words express the heart, good words demonstrate a good heart, and bad words a bad heart. On judgement day, words will be used as EVIDENCE for vindication or condemnation.
That’s why confession is so very important!
9 So you will be saved, if you honestly say, “Jesus is Lord,” and if you believe with all your heart that God raised him from death. 10 God will accept you and save you, if you truly believe this and tell it to others.
Our words are so very important because they identify our heart.
We can speak death if we have evil in our hearts toward another person. Our words reveal what’s inside.
In the same chapter of Matthew Jesus tells us where we get our words:
34 You are a bunch of evil snakes, so how can you say anything good? Your words show what is in your hearts.
Now, I know we aren’t perfect, but as we grow in the Lord we need to allow Him to refine us with His word. Proverbs helps us in that refining because it points out these hard things to heard. We can identify areas that we need to grow.
We know that words can hurt and bring death, but words can bring life.
Confession brings life and forgiveness!
9 But if we confess our sins to God, he can always be trusted to forgive us and take our sins away.
Proverbs 18:21 says that life is in the power of the tongue.
How do our words bring life?
How do our words bring life?
Because the words bring healing! When we care more about soothing an injury instead of winning an argument we can bring life.
Here are three little words that bring life: “I am sorry”.
Those words have POWER. They can change most every argument and disagreement. They bring healing where there was anger and resentment.
Leaving an argument undone doesn’t heal anything. You’ve heard the term, “Time heals all wounds” - well, I’m telling you - that’s a lie! Ignoring pain, hurt, or past wounds does not make them go away.
Saying humble, honest, beautiful things that need to be said is step number one in bringing healing.
Now, I’ve got to tell you, there are people in your life who have said things that have cut you deep. You may have even considered taking your own life. You deserve kind words asking you for forgiveness, but they never come.
Here’s some good news for you. Jesus is speaking the words you need to hear. Ultimately, all that matters is that He says to you - He says He loves you.
He says you’re forgiven.
He says you’re His child.
He says you’re His friend.
His words can bring you back to life when the words of others have hurt you so deeply you feel you can’t go on. Jesus is our salvation in the life to come and even in this life right now.
What does He tell us to do?
28 If you are tired from carrying heavy burdens, come to me and I will give you rest.
I think we get so overwhelmed with what others think about us that we forget what God thinks about us. We need to remember His words of truth. Those words can truly set us free if we believe that God is faithful to the things He’s said.
We have a responsibility to speak life to everyone because we have been given this great hope as a free gift of Grace.
There is enough of Jesus not only for us, but for everyone else too. Our words open His fountain of life that will redeem those who are lost.
11 The words of good people
are a source of life,
but evil hides behind
the words of the wicked.
Our words are a source of life because they are full of the good news that Christ can set us free, heal us, and help us to live!
God has called each one of us to this work of speaking life and truth. We all have a responsibility to breath life into everyone around us by our words of encouragement.
But our words alone can only do so much.
Listen to the wise words from proverbs 14:23:
23 Work brings profit,
but mere talk leads to poverty!
Mere talk and no work leads us to the wrong place! Words are important. They can bring life, but they must be paired with action!
It’s great to have dreams. I love thinking about the future and just dreaming about what could be, but if we never take steps of faith then those dreams will remain dreams. They words won’t produce anything.
There is a limitation to our words. Words cannot be a substitute for hard work!
Growing up in church, I’ll never forget my sunday school teacher who would always tell us that an excuse is a shell of a reason stuffed with a lie.
In other words - excuses are the lies we tell ourselves to reason why we don’t do anything!
Words require action!
12 Don’t say, “I didn’t know it!”
God can read your mind.
He watches each of us
and knows our thoughts.
And God will pay us back
for what we do.
God holds us responsible to our words.
Remember I read that all important scripture about confessing Jesus as Lord and you’ll be saved? Well, is it enough just to SAY Jesus is Lord? NO! You actually need to back up that confession with proof that Jesus is the Lord of your life. He’s not your Lord if you don’t do what He says.
15 Jesus said to his disciples:
If you love me, you will do as I command.
Hmmm…that seems like more than words. It’s action after the confession!
Word can bring life to another person. A phone call and prayer can make a big difference, and an even bigger difference is when those words are followed up with help!
I’m praying for you brother that your back is healed so you can clean out the leaves in your gutter! Well, that prayer backed up with the action of cleaning the gutters is an incredible difference!
As we think on these proverbs about the words we say, every single person here can respond in two ways.
You might say, “Thank you. Now I know what to do, and I can do it, these proverbs are a practical reminder to get back on the right path”
You might say, “Oh no, now I see myself as I really am. I’ve used words to hurt my spouse, my kids, my closest friends don’t speak to me. I’ve been a fool, and I am defeated.” You might feel like, “What’s the point of trying?”.
Here’s what I’d tell you - every one of us is either on the front end of foolish, disobedient words, and we do not see it coming, or we are on the back end of foolish disobedient words and we are suffering for it.
I have good news for both - You are accepted. God hasn’t rejected you.
When Jesus was on the cross He said something you need to hear:
46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”
At that moment in time God stopped communicating acceptance to his Son, so that He would NEVER stop communicating acceptance to us!
If you have breath in your lungs, you have an opportunity to receive from the Lord and you have an opportunity to SPEAK forgiveness and ask for forgiveness too.
God’s words are important for us to hear and understand:
23 Do this because God has given you new birth by his message that lives on forever. 24 The Scriptures say,
“Humans wither like grass,
and their glory fades
like wild flowers.
Grass dries up,
and flowers fall
to the ground.
25 But what the Lord has said
will stand forever.”
Our good news to you is what the Lord has said.
God renews all of us—through the gospel message of his love for sinners like me and you. The Spirit of God uses the Word of God to put new life in our hearts and new words in our mouths.
What happened when the Holy Spirit came down at Pentecost? The risen Jesus filled the hearts of his people, and they could not stop praising him. It hasn’t stopped since. It never will. Our words wither and fall, but His word will go on forever!
Death and life are in the power of the tongue. Choose to speak life. You will do that when you continue to renew you mind with God’s Word. Get it deeper and deeper into you and the YOUR words will spread new life to so many people. The eternal impact of your words might not be known until we make it to heaven, but one thing is for sure - they WILL be known.