Wisdom and speech
Deer Creek Community Study- Proverbs • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 3 viewsAim: to look at wisdom when it comes to speech
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What we say matters
What we say matters
Q: Why do you think that words matter?
Q: What kind of words can be destructive?
Q: What kind of words can be uplifting, encouraging?
Please turn to James chapter-3
Consider what James has to say about the tongue, words:
Jm3:2-3 “2 For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well. 3 Now if we put the bits into the horses’ mouths so that they will obey us, we direct their entire body as well.”
Jm3:4-5 “4 Look at the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, are still directed by a very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot desires. 5 So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire!”
Jm3:6-7 “6 And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell. 7 For every species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by the human race.”
Jm3:8-9 “8 But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God;”
Jm3:10-11 “10 from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way. 11 Does a fountain send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water?”
Words, speech that Christians use are important.
We are to avoid using corrupt words, only speaking words that edify as noted in (Eph4:29)
We are to abstain from filthy talk, jokes or even listening to it, instead we should give thanks to everything as noted in (Eph5:4)
Today we are looking at the power of speech that is powerful, and the power of speech to tear down or to build up.
Turn now to book of Proverbs
Pro11:9 “9 With his mouth the godless man destroys his neighbor, But through knowledge the righteous will be delivered.”
and
Pro11:11 “11 By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, But by the mouth of the wicked it is torn down.”
Wisdom, that is what this series, this look at this wisdom book is all about. And Proverbs has much to say regarding speech or language. So let’s dig in. I will try to stay within Proverbs.
Destructive speech
Destructive speech
Q: When you consider types of speech that can be destructive, what do you think about? Again this is ‘types’
Ready to turn?
Lying
Lying is an abomination (Pro12:22)
Pro12:22 “22 Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, But those who deal faithfully are His delight.”
and
Pro6:17-19 “17 Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood, 18 A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that run rapidly to evil, 19 A false witness who utters lies, And one who spreads strife among brothers.”
So, lying lips, lying tongue and a false witness who utters lies
The lying oftentimes is fostered by hidden hatred
Pro10:18 “18 He who conceals hatred has lying lips, And he who spreads slander is a fool.”
PRo26:24-28 “24 He who hates disguises it with his lips, But he lays up deceit in his heart. 25 When he speaks graciously, do not believe him, For there are seven abominations in his heart. 26 Though his hatred covers itself with guile, His wickedness will be revealed before the assembly. 27 He who digs a pit will fall into it, And he who rolls a stone, it will come back on him. 28 A lying tongue hates those it crushes, And a flattering mouth works ruin.”
The one who disguises hatred by his lips, his words. Like giving flattery or gracious words that are not true
Ah, these re the ones who life will prove to be short lived
Pro12:19 “19 Truthful lips will be established forever, But a lying tongue is only for a moment.”
Pro21:6 “6 The acquisition of treasures by a lying tongue Is a fleeting vapor, the pursuit of death.”
Lying tongue but for a moment, it is like a fleeting vapor that seeks death
A lying tongue will lead to the destruction of the person, as well as harm the person that was lied about (give an example here).
Flattery
Q: What does flattery mean?
Flattery (N):excessive and insincere praise, given especially to further one's own interests.
This can go further that insincere praise, comments it an be deceitful for manipulation of persons own interest.
We have previously used the adulterous to show the negative draw by the world and a flattering tongue here can destroy both the user and the subject of the flattery.
Pro6:24 “24 To keep you from the evil woman, From the smooth tongue of the adulteress.”
and then add to that since it brought back in the adulterous woman
Pro7:21 “21 With her many persuasions she entices him; With her flattering lips she seduces him.”
Ah, so flattery is just as dangerous as a lying tongue damaging both parties.
Gossip
Aka: talebearer, slanderer or whisperer.
Pro11:13 “13 He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets, But he who is trustworthy conceals a matter.”
Person who has no morals and shares what was said in confidence in private and made public through the gossip
This is the opposite of what we see at the end of Pro11:13 who is trustworthy and conceals a matter.
Now if you have a pen i will give you a few more in summary, with scripture but will not look them all up.
The flatterer betrays and destroys friendships (Pro17:9)
By repeating a matter
When if really cares, loves someone will continue to conceal the matter
The flatterer destroys character and integrity (Pro11:9; 25:9-10)
The work of a true hypocrite. An actor, someone who says one thing and does another.
This is the person who will eventually ruin, destroy their own character and integrity.
Again the flatter like the person who lies and is a gossip can destroy the flatterer and the person flattered about. See, one more time, words matter.
Cursing
Q: What does cursing mean?
Cursing (V): use coarse or blasphemous language to express anger or other strong emotion.
In the Proverbs we see a couple different ones that stick out
Against one’s parents (pro20:20; and again can see in Exo21:17 as well as Lev20:9
Oops, this is the person whose lamp would soon be put out in deep darkness. In case you did no know this was a capital offense
But wait, it goes beyond the parents it goes to another’s associates, friends (Pro30:10)
Even maligning a servant can be disastrous; this could lead to the Master or the servant turning on the person.
Again, who do you think cursing harms? - the person doing it, and can her those who it is spoken to (give example)
Those are some pretty negative things, lying, flattery, gossip and cursing. We cannot stay on just the negative for the speech can be used in a constructive manner too.
Constructive speech
Constructive speech
Q: what does the word constructive mean?
Constructive (adj): serving a useful purpose; tending to build up.
Such as some of these things
Good words
Alright get your fingers ready again.
Words of the righteous
Pro10:11 “11 The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, But the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.”
Q: What is the mouth of the righteous?
And
Pro10:20-21 “20 The tongue of the righteous is as choice silver, The heart of the wicked is worth little. 21 The lips of the righteous feed many, But fools die for lack of understanding.”
Q: What is the tongue of the righteous like?
Pleasant words
Pro16:24 “24 Pleasant words are a honeycomb, Sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.”
Q: what are pleasant words? What qualities do you see here?
Comforting words
Pro12:25 “25 Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs it down, But a good word makes it glad.”
What does a good word, comforting word do here?
These types of word bring comfort to the hearer and reveals the true character, nature and heart of the person give these words.
Timely words
Well-timed words
Pro15:23 “23 A man has joy in an apt answer, And how delightful is a timely word!”
one more
Pro25:11 “11 Like apples of gold in settings of silver Is a word spoken in right circumstances.”
How joyful it is when spoken the right words that are at the right time.
Q: Have you had someone who has come to you with the right words at just the right time when you really needed them? Anyone willing to share an example?
Well-thought words
pro15:28 “28 The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, But the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.”
Where the other was timely and joyful, these reveal the wisdom of the speaker.
Controlled words
Q: what does controlled mean?
Controlled (adj): not showing emotion; having one's feelings under control.
Someone with controlled speech has benefits
Pro13:2-3 “2 From the fruit of a man’s mouth he enjoys good, But the desire of the treacherous is violence. 3 The one who guards his mouth preserves his life; The one who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.”
A couple more I will reference the scripture but due to time constraints will not read. (Pro15:1-2; Pro21:23)
In summary of these
Preserves life the one who guards his moth
Defuses potentially violate, volatile situations
Keeps one’s soul from trouble
Controlled words reveal true knowledge and understanding, meaning when applied wisdom
Pro10:19 “19 When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable, But he who restrains his lips is wise.”
Q: what can be the negative and the positive of this verse?
Pro17:27-28 “27 He who restrains his words has knowledge, And he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding. 28 Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise; When he closes his lips, he is considered prudent.”
Q: we can see easily the one who has controlled words, but what more do you see in these verses?
These kinds of words will enhance the reputation, character, integrity of the speaker, well, it can be a good benefit to the listener too, can’t it?
Drawing a conclusion
We have looked at the value of being careful, prudent in the speech, the words that we use.
And, to bring in a little N.T. regarding words, Paul’s words
May our speech always be with grace
COl4:6 “6 Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.”
Only allow words that are for the good (for edification, don’t allow unwholesome to come out.
Eph4:29 “29 Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.”
Have you seen wisdom behind our speech, our words today?
(Prayer)