Posts Tagged ‘gold apples’

Proverbs 15:23 Wisdom for the Soul

Posted: August 16, 2013 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Proverbs 15, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command

Proverbs 15:23 A man finds joy in giving an apt reply-how good is a timely word!

Answering well is a precious ability, especially at the right time! Knowing how to answer others is a valuable skill of wise men. The wisdom to help with the right words at the right time makes a person profitable to others (Pr 12:14; 16:13; 23:16; 24:26; 25:12).

Solomon said a good answer is as beautiful as gold apples in a silver bowl (Pr 25:11). But the ability to give the right answer at the right time takes much understanding and wisdom, so he dedicated many of his proverbs to this skill for your success and profit.

The Lord Jesus taught that giving is more blessed than receiving (Acts 20:35). One of the best and easiest ways to give and support others is with a kind or wise word when they need it. There is righteous joy in helping someone with good counsel. But such ability only comes by careful preparation and knowledge before the opportunity presents itself.

Jesus Christ had this ability. “The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary” (Is 50:4). It is a duty and privilege to have this wise tongue, so you also can help others. You can learn how to answer every man and have pleasure doing it (Col 4:6; Gal 6:1-5; I Pet 3:15).

How? Listen very attentively and speak cautiously (Prov 18:13; 29:20; James 1:19).

How? Reduce your words to only valuable ones (Prov 10:19; 17:27-28; Eccl 5:3).

How? Spend time examining your speech by prayer (Psalms 19:12-14; 139:23-24).

How? Keep your heart and thoughts pure and wise (Prov 4:23; 22:11; Luke 6:45).

How? Always be gracious in your speech (Prov 11:16; 22:11; Eccl 10:12; Col 4:6).

How? Make the glory of God an object of your speech (Col 3:17; I Cor 10:31).

How? Study to make sure all your answers are correct (Prov 15:2,28; 16:23).

How? Make sure the words fit the occasion (Prov 10:32; 25:20; I Cor 13:5).

How? Choose words that build others up (Prov 12:18; Eph 4:29; I Cor 10:24).

How? Use gentle words when a person is angry (Prov 15:1; 25:15; Judges 8:1-3).

How? Give certain words of truth rather than opinions (Prov 22:17-22; I Pet 3:15).

How? Learn wisdom to solve dilemmas for others (Prov 10:21; 16:21; 27:9).

How? Be encouraging and uplifting to others (Prov 12:25; 16:24; I Sam 23:16).

How? Use pleasant rather than harsh words (Prov 16:24; Col 4:6; Luke 4:22).

How? Do not debate or dispute with fools (Prov 23:9; 26:4-5; II Tim 2:23).

How? Avoid complaining or negative speech (Prov 17:20; Phil 2:14; Col 3:17).

How? Reject pride and contention in speech (Prov 13:10; 18:6; I Cor 6:7).

How? Let negative words only season speech (Prov 26:5; Jas 3:9-12; Col 4:6).

How? Avoid hurtful words behind a person’s back (Prov 11:13; 20:19; 25:9,23).

How? Work thanksgiving into every conversation (Eph 5:4,20; I Thess 5:18).

If you want a happy life and good life, then learn how to rule your speech and use it for the profit of others (Ps 34:12-16; I Pet 3:10-12). Both men and women can rise in reputation by gracious words that build up others (Pr 11:16; 22:11; 31:26; Ec 10:12; Eph 4:29). This skill and wisdom will make your life productive for both God and men.

The true purpose of the church is the mutual help members give one another while waiting for the return of Jesus Christ (Heb 3:12-13; 10:23-25). But this great goal will only be realized where members learn to answer well at the right time. If godly speech is learned by all, a church can grow up to the full measure of Jesus Christ (Eph 4:13-16).

 

Proverbs 16:13 Wisdom for the Soul

Posted: May 22, 2013 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Proverbs, Proverbs 16, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command
Proverbs 16:13 Kings take pleasure in honest lip; they value a man who speaks the truth.

Put those in power who know how to speak to the purpose. Your lips can promote you. Your speech can win love. Even powerful men appreciate gracious and truthful words. Good speech is a large part of wisdom. A gracious man will rise high among men (Pr 22:11), and a gracious woman will be highly prized (Pr 11:16).

Godly speech will quickly exalt you. Good answers will cause others to want to kiss you (Pr 24:26). The right word at the right time is as beautiful as gold apples in a silver bowl (Pr 25:11). A wise reproof to an appreciative hearer is like jewels of fine gold (Pr 25:12).

Your mouth can promote you in position and friends, or it can ruin you in every relationship of life (Eccl 10:12). No matter how good and virtuous your heart and mind, they are revealed best by gracious and truthful speech. Kings were great and powerful in Solomon’s time, but their approval and affection could be won with righteous words. Give God the glory for this wonderful proverb and its valuable lesson for godly speech.

As a proverb, you are to understand the kings under consideration are noble and righteous kings. Profane and wicked kings have little regard for good things, including wise and virtuous speech. Many kings were foolish enough to appoint court jesters and evil counselors! But even pagan kings could appreciate humble and wise words, as Pharaoh listening to Joseph and Nebuchadnezzar listening to Daniel (Gen 41:38-45; Dan 1:18-21).

Consider the power of this proverb. It does not use winning the favor of friends, family, neighbors, or colleagues. It teaches winning the approval and affection of glorious monarchs – a plural number of them at that! Kings had enormous glory, power, and wealth. They held the power of life and death. Their favor was a great blessing (Pr 16:14-15; 19:12; 20:2). Daniel continued through the reigns of several Babylonian kings, a Median king, and into the reign of Cyrus the Persian (Dan 1:18-21; 5:29-31; 6:1-3,28)!

Consider this proverb’s details. Godly kings delight in good speech: they love right words spoken at the right time (Pr 10:20; 15:23; 16:24; 25:11). But not only do they delight in the words, they also love the man that speaks them! The good words and discreet speech please their minds; the speaker wins their hearts (Pr 12:14; 14:35; 24:26). Solomon knew his father David in his youth had won Prince Jonathan this way (Pr 22:11; I Sam 18:1-5).

Reader, would kings love you? Are your words appropriate, cheerful, compassionate, discreet, edifying, encouraging, few, gentle, gracious, helpful, kind, merciful, modest, prudent, righteous, sober, thankful, true, and wise? Or do you argue, backbite, boast, complain, criticize, dominate conversations, flatter, talk foolishly, show disrespect, exaggerate, jest, lie, murmur, repeat yourself, slander, swear, tattle, or whisper?

Promotion is as close as your mouth. King Solomon said death and life are in the power of your tongue (Pr 10:31; 12:18; 18:21). Which will it be for you, death or life? If you want great men to delight in your speech and love your person, then teach your mouth the wisdom of the book of Proverbs (Pr 10:19; 15:28; 16:23; 17:27-28). Joseph, David, Daniel, and Mordecai were able to win the favor and love of kings of all kinds by it.

Better relationships for women are as close as your mouth. Abigail won the heart of David in just a few minutes, in spite of the fact he was filled with furious and murderous thoughts (I Sam 25:23-35). The virtuous woman, good enough to satisfy a queen mother for her son the king, has speech of wisdom and kindness (Pr 31:26). God identified Sarah as a great woman for her humility and reverence to call Abraham lord (I Pet 3:5-6).

Few women today can even come close to these three women. They think they should be loved for spouting off opinions and having saucy retorts in conversation. They complain, criticize, and defend themselves until no one wants to be near them. Then they blame others for not being fair and understanding. If you cannot see the difference between Bible graciousness and modern women, read Solomon’s proverbs about speech again!

God gave Jesus Christ the tongue of the learned (Is 50:4). His words were always gracious and always true (Ps 45:2; Luke 4:22). No man ever spoke like Him (John 7:46)! He won God’s fullest and eternal approval, and He is sat down at the right of God’s throne ruling the universe at this very hour. He is the high King of heaven and prince of the kings of the earth. Will you win His approval and blessing by your speech today?