Sunday Leftovers (8/8/10)

A couple decades ago, Yogi Berra had opportunity to attend a White House dinner.  After the event he was asked about the experience, and he replied:  “It was hard to have a conversation, there were so many people talking.”

Indeed.

Yet he was right — for where there is an abundance of words, there is often a scarcity of listening and communication.

The tongue, which is designed by God for edification and a means of grace, too often becomes a means of destruction and emptiness — wasted words, as was noted yesterday morning.

How then can a man build up others with words?  Proverbs offers much instruction (here is a partial list of “Proverbs on the Tongue”).  A few of the principles are as follows:

• Let your words be truthful (Prov. 12:17, 19; 23:23).  And don’t only be truthful with your words, but also be truthful in your heart — make your meditations and thoughts conform to reality (cf. Ps. 15:2).  A fundamental quality of one in fellowship with God is inward integrity.
• Let your words be protective & saving = 12:6, 18; 13:3; 16:24; 25:15.  E.g., Acts 15:36ff; 2 Tim. 4:11
• Let your words be cautious & few (10:19; 15:28; 17:27-28; 18:8).  Few words enhance our ability to listen and comprehend others, and will keep us from being angry and arguing with God as well (Js. 1:19-20).
• Let your words be well-timed & appropriate (15:23; 25:11-12).  Be careful to evaluate what the need is at the moment that you are speaking, and let your words address that need with grace.  If it is said at the right time with the right demeanor, you can say virtually anything to anyone without offense (27:6).
• Be open yourself to counsel & correction (20:18).  To accept counsel is to acknowledge that I am imperfect and that you can help me become more like Christ.
• Cultivate a righteousness heart (10:32; cf. Lk. 6:45).  Having careful words isn’t just the “will power” to not say wrong thing; it is the intentional pursuit of righteous heart.  (Cf. also 16:23; 18:4, 20).

When these principles are applied, they will result in life that reflects God’s eternal life (15:4).