Proverbs 16:23
There
is one thing I have learned over the last 40 years: people can’t help but tell
their story. No matter how much they try to hide what is going on inside, it
will leak out. It may not be with words, but attitude and actions speak. When
someone has been hurt in the past they let other people know, one way or
another.
Notice
our proverb today. When someone is wise, their heart directs their mouth and
the result is instruction. It all starts in the heart. The heart is the seat of
who we are. When we are in right relationship with God and with others, then
our heart is able to speak clearly. When we are out of sync with either God or
others, then the message will be muddled. Our words will be saying one thing
and body another.
You
have noticed this before. Someone says they are OK, but as you look at them you
know something is wrong. You ask again, and this time the truth comes gushing
out. They tell their story.
Notice
that the wise person’s mouth speaks what is prudent. They have a filter to
their mouth. They don’t say everything they could. They limit what they say to
that which leads to good judgment and a righteous life. We don’t have to say
everything we have on our minds! This has been a long lesson for me to learn.
The
older and more mature we get (and they don’t necessarily go together), the more
we are responsible for training the next generations. It is not enough that we
have our life together, we are responsible for helping the next several generations
get on their feet and walking with the LORD, being responsible human beings
created in God’s image.
So,
today, if you feel like you HAVE to say something, perhaps you need to step
back and ask yourself if wisdom and knowledge is about to pass through your
lips.