Proverbs 25:11-12

Wise Communication/ Constructive Correction

Whats going on you guys this is our first normal Wednesday night in a while, We are going to do our little Devo and then when we are done we will go out on the black top and have a park night here at church

On the calendar, Next Wednesday is our Church at the beach, Yes this includes Jr. High and High-school.

The times and details will be sent out through group message and email, If you are not on either talk to me after and I will help you get set up with Kayla

Tonight we are going to do something a little different. Im going to do a much shorter devotional and then we will brake up into groups with our Leaders and we are going to spend some time in Prayer

As your leaders we are here for you and we want you to know we love you. Sometimes its necessary for us to brake up into smaller groups and be encouraged to ask for prayer

How many of you know that Prayer changes things ? Prayer is our communion With God. Its a blessing for us to be able to talk to him at any given time

1 Thessalonians 5:16–17 “16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing,”

Philippians 4:6–7 “6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

Jeremiah 29:12–13 “12 Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.”

So lets Pray and Ask the Lord to speak to us and through us and then we will get started

Proverbs 25:11–12 “11 A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold In settings of silver. 12 Like an earring of gold and an ornament of fine gold Is a wise rebuker to an obedient ear.”  

A) Vs 11: “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold In settings of silver. 

Communication is very big in life. Without communication there are all sorts of problems and issues that arise, but communication with the right words spoken at the right time ! that goes very far in a persons life!

Solomon here illustrates for us a powerful picture with the words “fitly spoken are like Gold apples in settings of silver”

Gold is much more beautiful than silver and much more valuable than silver

Advice given at the right time is much more valuable in life than advice given at the wrong time

Good communication through good advice has the power to do many things (As David Guzik says) it has the power to Heal, it has the power to strengthen, it has the power to guide and rescue 

It is “like apples of Gold in settings of silver, it’s valuable and beautiful in substance and presentation 

Good advice if we look at the Gospels is always given by Jesus to the disciples, and the power in the advice and direction that he gave them was POWERFUL !!! 

His advice to the disciples and anyone he encountered was always at the right time

It also reminds me of how necessary it is to think before we speak and to listen before we speak because when we give advice we better hope and pray it’s at the right time and that it’s sound biblical advice 

far too often we think that just because we have good advice that it means that it should be freely given, but the truth is it needs to be given at the right time

When advice is given or spoken at the wrong time it can have a reverse affect, thats why Solomon here is making it a point to share with us that it has to be done at the right time…. the result is far more valuable and far more impactful

theres a-lot of smart people out there with great advice but they lack discernment on when to give it !

Most of you when you get married will find that communication is not always easy, sometimes you may have advice for your spouse but if it is given at the wrong time it actually makes things worst ! ( Kelci and I never struggle with this) …….

Nabal

Many of you remember the story of the man Nabal in 1st Samuel , Nabal had insulted David and His men by not feeding them after providing protection to Him and His flock of Animals

David had gathered his men and went on to find Nabal and Kill him, He said in verse 22 1 Samuel 25:22 “22 May God do so, and more also, to the enemies of David, if I leave one male of all who belong to him by morning light.””

He was upset beyond the point of being able to deal with the situation peacefully

If we go down to Verse 23-25 we read this

1 Samuel 25:23–25 “23 Now when Abigail saw David, she dismounted quickly from the donkey, fell on her face before David, and bowed down to the ground. 24 So she fell at his feet and said: “On me, my lord, on me let this iniquity be! And please let your maidservant speak in your ears, and hear the words of your maidservant. 25 Please, let not my lord regard this scoundrel Nabal. For as his name is, so is he: Nabal is his name, and folly is with him! But I, your maidservant, did not see the young men of my lord whom you sent.”

Thankfully Nabal had a wife that was not a moron

Here we see the words she spoke to David were Like apples of Gold in settings of silver

She was able to meet David at the right time and speak the right words

David responded with these words Look at verse 32-35

1 Samuel 25:32–35 “32 Then David said to Abigail: “Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me! 33 And blessed is your advice and blessed are you, because you have kept me this day from coming to bloodshed and from avenging myself with my own hand. 34 For indeed, as the Lord God of Israel lives, who has kept me back from hurting you, unless you had hurried and come to meet me, surely by morning light no males would have been left to Nabal!” 35 So David received from her hand what she had brought him, and said to her, “Go up in peace to your house. See, I have heeded your voice and respected your person.””

the right words at the right time. This idea that Solomon has shared with us here in Proverbs is so profound and so impactful

2 things ill leave with you to keep this part short; 1) if you think you are going to give advice, think of the timing and the setting 2) watch your tone, many of us have a terrible tone when we say things, ill be the first to admit i struggle with this, if the timing is right the setting is right , make sure your tone is right

you can do everything right and have a horrible tone and everything you said is useless

Lets move on

B) VS 12: Like an earring of gold and an ornament of fine gold Is a wise rebuker to an obedient ear.”

So a word spoken that is done at the right time and that is sound only goes so far if a person receives it or doesn’t receive it  

A person who receives correction who’s heart is right, views the person giving the correction as valuable   

shown here is the importance for humility when it comes to being corrected

A receptive mind is very important for correction to be effective 

When I think about that I think about how many times I have allowed pride to get in the way of my ability to receive correction, only to go and learn things the hard way

All of us will battle with this and all of us will be tested with this. Our ability to be receptive shows the humility in us

there have been times when people have corrected me in a harsh manner, been extremely rude but What I have learned over the years is that even in those times I can take what has been said and be humble enough to be receptive !

An obedient ear is one that is mature. Its one that will grow in wisdom

An obedient ear is valuable like an ear ring of Gold an ornament of fine Gold

Lets brake out and Pray