Reading for Today:
Proverb Chapter 12
Gold Nugget
Verse 18: "There is one who speaks like the
piercings of a sword, but the tongue of the wise promotes health.”
Commentary
I've heard it said that some folks make a room brighter
when they walk into it, while some brighten a room when they walk out. Whatever
good someone does, there is an opposite opportunity to do harm. Today's
"gold nugget" tells of the person that does great harm when he speaks
- As harmful as a piercing sword. Adversely, there are also wise who bring
health to others with the words they say. Elsewhere in Proverbs we read that "Death and life are in the power of the
tongue," (Proverbs 18:21a). We can either bring death or life with the
things we say. I may not be physical death, but spiritual death and destruction
or spiritual life and encouragement. Don't under estimate the power of the
tongue. Consider James 5:4-5, "Look
also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they
are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. Even so the
tongue is a little member and boasts great things.” See how great a forest
a little fire kindles!" We have an effect on others by even the smallest
things we say. We have a choice. We can use our words to build someone up or
tear someone down. There are suggested guidelines that could be implemented right
away to ensure that our words are not destructive to others. We must make a
healthy "compliments to criticism ratio" part of your personal
policy. Some suggest a 3:1 ratio, while others suggest a 5:1. In other words,
to use the 5:1 ratio, you would ensure you made 5 compliments to even 1
criticism. It may seem like a lot, but if you are not close enough to a person
to find 5 complimentary things to say about them, you are probably not close
enough to criticize them. We are called to be builders, not destroyers. Maybe
today is the day that God will make the changes in you and me that will ensure
our ability to be builders.
Prayer
Lord, I know that I
don't always ensure my tongue is uttering the right things. Help me to remember
that you have trained me to be an encourager and not a discourager. Amen
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