Bulletin Articles
Proverbs 29:20
Proverbs 29:20
"Do you see a person who is hasty with his words?
There is more hope for a fool than for him.”
There is more hope for a fool than for him.”
There are certainly moments in life when a quick, hasty word is necessary. Maybe there’s an emergency we need to respond to or maybe our kids need correction. In those kinds of scenarios, yes, a quick and decisive word is appropriate. However, it doesn’t seem like this proverb is addressing those kinds of “hasty words.”
Have you known someone at work or school or in your family who always has an opinion at the ready? Or maybe someone who knows all the answers all the time and is first to offer advice even when they’ve not been asked? How often is their opinion well-researched, their answers correct & their advice helpful and godly?
It seems the proverb above is likely talking about this kind of behavior. The kinds of words that come out of our mouths before we really think them through. In the heat of the moment, we may say something hurtful or uninformed that can have negative consequences. Quick words can be sinful, too. We may say something wrong just because we wanted to say something first.
However, when we take a beat and think and say a quick Nehemiah-like prayer, our words will come out with more grace and wisdom. Asking more questions to complete our understanding of a situation will allow us to offer better, more complete advice. Examining other’s emotional states before responding will allow us to be more empathetic and compassionate in our response.
James 1:19
“My dear brothers and sisters, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger."
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