Ten Minute Bible Talks Devotional Bible Study - Talking Like Fools | The Writings | Proverbs 16

Starting point is 00:00:00 Welcome to 10-minute Bible Talks, where we connect the Bible to your life and the time it takes to get to work. I'm Jensen Holt McNair. It's not easy to admit, but for as long as I can remember, I've had trouble taming my tongue. I've always been quick to speak and many, many times in my life, my quickness has led me to regret the things that I've said out loud. I've snapped back at my husband and regretted the harshness of my delivery. I've overshared information that I had no right to share because I didn't take a moment to stop and think if I should say what was coming out of my mouth.

Starting point is 00:00:41 In middle school and high school, I sent off direct and heated text messages that certainly could have been delivered with more grace and kindness. Most of the time my quick clapbacks and pointed remarks felt justified. Well, it's how I felt. They should know.

Starting point is 00:00:58 They maybe even deserve a little bit of my anger with the way that they were acting. Now, luckily, as I've gotten older, I've had friends and family in my life who have graciously and gently pushed back on my self-righteous belief that I have a right to say what I want, when I want, no matter the circumstances. Natural consequences have also helped me rein in my quick remarks and biting words. See, as it turns out, relationally, things don't go very well for you when you say whatever you want, whenever you want. It's just not wise. Proverbs 16, 20 to 24, is a collection of proverbs that lay out two different ways that we can use our speech,

Starting point is 00:01:38 for wisdom or for folly. We're going to read the passage now. Whoever gives thought to the word will discover good, and blessed is he who trusts in the Lord. The wise of heart is called discerning, and sweetness of speech increases persuasiveness. Now the first two verses here remind us that being quick to speak is not always wise. Instead, the wise, the wise person gives thought to what they say. They're discerning in their speech. They don't say whatever comes to mind. They aren't looking for a quick clapback. Instead, they deliberate. They consider. They give thought to the words that flow out of their mouth. And in return, rather than responding quickly and allowing their speech to be muddled by emotions, they're able to collect their words and thoughts and

Starting point is 00:02:27 speak kindly with purpose. Verse 21 tells us this isn't just to be nice. It also increases persuasiveness. It is both for the benefit of the person you are speaking to because no one wants to be spoken to unkindly, but it's also for your own benefit to speak kindly. We know this, right? Like when an hourly employee gets your order wrong, are you more likely to get the problem fixed quickly and efficiently if you just kindly explain the issue and ask for help. Or what if you blow up in their face yelling? One gets you the food and the other gets you kicked out of the building. Or when I want my husband to put the dish scrubbing brush back in the place where it belongs

Starting point is 00:03:09 after he does the dishes, I can either yell at him in frustration that I've asked a thousand times and why doesn't he care about my feelings and desires? Or I can kindly remind him that it has a place and ask if he would work on. being mindful about putting it back. One is going to start a heated argument that ruins the night and causes tension and distrust, and the other probably moves us closer to resolution. Wise, kind, respectful speech is much more persuasive than quick emotional responses. Continuing on, good sense is a fountain of life to him who has it, but the instruction of fools is folly. The heart of the wise makes sense.

Starting point is 00:03:53 his speech judicious and adds persuasiveness to his lips. Have you ever listened to someone talking to you and just thought, this guy has no idea what he's talking about? We all want to have something to say. We all want to sound smart to look like we know something. But sometimes in our eagerness to speak, in our eagerness to sound smart, we overstep. And when we speak too quickly out of a lack of knowledge or discernment, oftentimes we end up looking like the fool. Instead, the wise man, the one with discernment and good sense, is a fountain of life. His speech is judicious. He is persuasive. The fool confuses and shares folly, but the wise man produces life with his words. He benefits the people around him with his words. He offers them something. And in the final verse we read,

Starting point is 00:04:46 gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body. If you've kept up with American politics lately or watched any popular reality television series or read through a thread of comments on any celebrity's social media posts, you might think that this verse actually says, slandering words or vicious takedowns or witty clapbacks or gossiping lips are like honeycomb, sweetness to the soul, and health to the body. But that's not what it says. It says gracious words.

Starting point is 00:05:18 Speaking with graciousness produces life and health. And yet, we live in a world that glorifies, amplifies, and encourages hateful rhetoric day in and day out. In our politics, on our Facebook pages, in our television shows, from our news outlets. See, when I see people tearing each other down, saying horrible things about human beings behind their backs and to their faces, I can't help but wonder where the motivation is coming from. Because we know that yelling at someone and calling them names isn't actually helpful. It isn't going to help create a healthy relationship. It isn't going to create harmony or

Starting point is 00:06:04 agreement. We aren't going to persuade someone to agree with us when we're screaming at them. So why do we do it? Why do we continue to choose foolish, quick, emotional? words when we know they lead to folly, to more destruction and death. I think it's because oftentimes we don't really believe that gracious speech is wise. No, we think to hold your tongue, to wait, to respond maybe actually looks like you lost. You didn't have the best response. Or to speak kindly to someone who slanders you is to give up the fight, to not defend yourself, to look weak, to use gracious words to people on the other side of the political spectrum is seen as acceptance or tolerance of their beliefs. To use discernment is to be inauthentic to your true emotions. It's

Starting point is 00:06:58 repressive. You see, our modern logic has turned this proverb on its head. Our modern logic has led us into a world where the fool, the one who's quick to speak, who speaks harshly and with a vengeance is the one who is praised, is incentivized. The fool is the one who wins. But here's the thing. Our modern logic is not reality. No matter how warped we've made our view of wisdom and foolishness, it does not change the fact that human beings were created for fullness of life by a creator. A creator who designed us to flourish when we live by his wisdom. If you live your life characterized by the wise speech found in scripture, rather than in the world around you, you may not win arguments. You may not get

Starting point is 00:07:54 pats on the back for your scathing reviews and quick-witted comebacks, but you will be someone who creates life, who is truly a joy and a blessing and a comfort to be around. Your words will bring healing, not hatred, sweetness, not frustration, life, not death. Who would you rather be? It isn't easy to live a wise life in a world that has so much, so upside down, but it is worth it. Choose life. With every word, with every thought, with every response, with every defense, choose discernment, sweetness, and graciousness. Trust in the Lord. Trust that his ways are best. Trust that his wisdom will reign forever in his good kingdom.

Ten Minute Bible Talks Devotional Bible Study - Talking Like Fools | The Writings | Proverbs 16

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