I have been reading through Proverbs over the past year, and there have been some amazing insights that God has revealed to me. I have to admit, I did not like some of those insights because they convicted me in some areas of my life that I did not want to admit to. There was some shame and guilt that bubbled up. However, God gently washed them away, and He gave me peace and comfort along with guidance.
One of the areas that I am prayerfully working on right now is transforming my words. In Proverbs 25:11-15, I noticed 4 different kinds of words: appropriate words, reproving words, refreshing words, and vain words. As you continue to read, I will expound on these words. I am sharing with you what I am working on in my own heart. I hope this helps you as well.
Appropriate words are words that come naturally and are “fitly spoken”. They run smoothly like they are on wheels. They are not forced and not designed to hurt. According to verse 11, they are “like apples of gold in a setting of silver”. Conversations between people are most commonly spoken with appropriate, fitly-spoken words. They don’t have ulterior motives behind them, and these words are straight forward. These words are suited to its occasion.
The next set of words are reproving words. “Like a gold ring or an ornament of gold is a wise reprover to a listening ear. (v. 12)” When someone speaks to you in a way that is constructive, you may not want to hear it. However, if you are open and honest with yourself, and if that person speaking to you is trustworthy, you will find that it is helpful in your walk. At times, I don’t know when I am not walking a walk that is glorifying to God. There are sometimes that I get caught up in acting like the world. And that is when a wise person in my life that I hold myself accountable to can speak into my life wisdom by letting me know that something I am doing is distracting me or someone else from living a godly life. This helps edify the body of Christ, the believers.
There are words that are like drinking a nice cold glass of iced tea on a hot, muggy day. These are refreshing words. Verse 13 puts it like this: “Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest is a faithful messenger to those who send him; he refreshes the soul of his masters.” You can trust this person as they encourage you in times of deep need of said encouragement. When all seems to be going wrong and you feel like an absolute failure that can’t get anything right, someone comes along and tells you what an amazing job you are doing holding everything together. That is the type of refreshing that I am speaking of. Another example, which is me being utterly transparent, is that when I am raising four sons and the oldest one says to me, “Ma, you did so much to help me with my faith. You didn’t push it on me; you just lived it, and I noticed. Thanks.” Now that is refreshing.
On the other hand are vain words. A person may brag that he will give a gift or do something in order to get you to do a favor for that person, but actually does not intend to deliver on that. In fact, verse 14 says, “Like clouds and wind without rain is a man who boasts of a gift he does not give.” For example, you cover a shift as a swap for a co-worker that says that they will cover your shift because they “need” that day off. When it comes time for them to cover your shift, they decide that they don’t want to and you are stuck working your shift after you’ve already worked theirs. I will say that you learn your lesson and this person develops a bed reputation, but it is still an apt example of vain words.
I know that there are many other categories of words that we need to look at, but for now, I need to make sure I look at category by category. I can not look at every type of word and expect to get everything right at one time. Like it says in James 3:8a, “but no human being can tame the tongue.”But God-willing, I can look to the Holy Spirit for the truth and guidance in what comes out of my mouth. I want to “let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to the Lord. (Psalm 19:14)”
Gotta go fill up my cup…..
Coffee with Candee 