In April 2014, a blogger was sentenced to 3 years in prison for slander and spreading online rumors. He was the first among hundreds of bloggers detained in a crackdown on Internet rumors being spread in social media. The authorities said that the arrests were aimed at maintaining social order, but rights groups saw this crackdown as an attempt to limit freedom of speech online. There continues to be much discussion, debate, and disagreement on the uses and abuses of social media, not only over what’s been blogged but also in the way words have been used.
In Proverbs 16:20-30, the wise person is contrasted with the unwise. The way people talk can reveal a lot about them. It’s often through words that a person is exposed as wise or foolish.
The wise person discerns and knows when and how to speak a timely word. “From a wise mind comes wise speech” (Proverbs 16:23), for “the wise are known for their understanding” (Proverbs 16:21). They’re called “discerning” (Proverbs 16:21 NIV). The wise person speaks careful, appropriate, pleasant, and gracious words that persuade and instruct—bringing encouragement and life to the hearer (Proverbs 16:21-24). “Kind words are like honey—sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.” In contrast, a foolish person is controlled by a tongue that destroys, divides, and deceives (Proverbs 16:27-29).
Whether having a conversation face to face or blogging in the social media, the words we choose are reflections of who we are and of the God we serve. Paul wrote, “Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them” (Ephesians 4:29). Wise words flow from God. May we follow His lead in all we say today.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Acts 4:5-22
More:
Read James 3:2-11 and consider what it says about the power of words.
Next:
Go to someone in need of encouragement. What pleasant words can you say to him or her? How can you honor God better with your speech?
Gary Shultz on October 11, 2015 at 8:05 am
Yes, words are very important. In some arenas that is all we will know about a person, how they are able to write or speak. To me, we get the better picture in word and deed. Most times we will not see the deed, so even more caution and peace with the word. Thanks
nanapoo on January 15, 2017 at 1:32 pm
People say this statement all the time”Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never hurt me” this statement is so false. People in this world can the most horrible things and feel justify. This statement reign true “If you can’t find nothing nice to say, say nothing at all. We need to learn how to think before we speak. The word says in Proverbs 15: 1 A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. But if you would like to encourage someone it woul be like this in Proverbs 25: 11 A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver. So we to listen before we speak. For Jesus was our prime example with the woman caught in adultery and she wasn’t by herself. Amen
nanapoo on January 15, 2017 at 1:33 pm
People say this statement all the time”Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never hurt me” this statement is so false. People in this world can the most horrible things and feel justify. This statement reign true “If you can’t find nothing nice to say, say nothing at all. We need to learn how to think before we speak. The word says in Proverbs 15: 1 A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. But if you would like to encourage someone it woul be like this in Proverbs 25: 11 A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver. So we to listen before we speak. For Jesus was our prime example with the woman caught in adultery.