Snapshots From The Bible WK 27~ Proverbs 17:27- Speaking Wisely



Proverbs 17: 27

‘He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit’

It is so easy for us to speak just for the sake of it! Next time you are in a public place, tune into the conversations around and you will probably find that the majority of them are pretty inconsequential. Of course, we all have different priorities according to our social companions and what is important to one group of people may well be of no interest to another.

We need to be aware of our thoughts and subsequently our words. The knowledge spoken of here is not identified however it is apt to say that what comes out of our mouths defines who we are. What are your attitudes towards others? If you are the first to gossip you are spending little time thinking and are in a hurry to pass on what is usually malicious information of some form to others. A wise person does not indulge in gossip and hearsay- which generally grows out of proportion very quickly: we have all played Chinese whispers at some point!

It is good to spend time considering what you are going to say before you speak. This enables you to think a little about how your words might be received. Always speaking from a positive standpoint is helpful here, for example: you can just as easily tell someone where to put their wet umbrella rather than telling them to stop dripping it over the floor! This is a simple tactic that is easy to acquire with practice and can be applied to nearly every situation.

The more positive we are towards others, the more positive they become towards us. People like being around positive people rather than those who are always complaining. Knowing when to speak is important too. You cannot be included in every conversation and usually if you need to know something, someone is bound to tell you.

We are well advised to spend more time listening and absorbing information so that we have grasped it fully. Leaders may well speak a great deal but at the same time most of them read avidly and are very knowledgeable about many things. When you reach this point you command respect, even from those who do not agree with you.

How often do we speak? If you speak all the time others might switch off and miss the important things you wish to say. When people keep up a general monologue very little is heard as we start to think about other things and just nod or utter occasionally. Think about when  a quiet person speaks, the reaction is often different as people become curious and everyone wants to hear what they have to say.

How often do you have real conversations with your partner or children compared to the amount of time you might moan and complain at them? This is a crucial area and one that is well worth addressing.

Once you understand how you use language you are in a position to make changes. Once on the positive you too will become a person of understanding  with an excellent spirit!


Jaz McKenzie

 

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