PROVERBS 15
4 Outlines
Proverbs 15:1 etc.
WORDS
Words are used every day by just about everyone. There
are all kinds of words.
·
There are generous words. There are stingy words.
·
There are loving words. There are hateful words.
·
There are kind words. There are unkind words.
·
There are words spoken in anger. There are words
spoken in peace.
·
There are loud words. There are quiet words.
And on we could go.
The words that Christians use are very important. Our words will either draw people to faith in
Christ and a deep walk with God, or our words will drive people away.
I have heard Christians say some wonderful things that
have had a positive effect on unbelievers.
And I have heard Christians say some nasty things that have had a
negative effect on unbelievers.
I have heard Christians say some nasty things to
believers that have hurt Christ's church.
I have heard Christians say some wonderful things that have strengthened
Christ's church.
Consider some of the types of words Christians should
use.
CALM WORDS - Proverbs 15:1
A soft answer turneth
away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.
You have heard men or women explode in anger.
You have probably been the victim of a tirade of words
that have left you reeling.
You have probably been incensed when someone has
lashed out verbally at you, and might have responded with your own heavy
artillery of harsh, angry words.
We can not control the temperature, harshness, or
volume of the words of another. We can,
however, try to control the temperature, harshness and volume of our own words.
Often, a soft answer will cause the person who is
"hot under the collar" to cool down.
A person who is yelling, just might realize how
ridiculous he must sound in comparison to the one who is talking softly.
A soft answer, in dealing with people who have done
wrong or offended us, will also help keep us from a lot of angry, violent
reactions. People are less likely to
become angry if they are talked to in a quiet way.
One of the secrets to giving a soft answer involves
controlling our own anger. Proverbs
gives us some good advice on that as well.
Proverbs 3:30 - Strive
not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no
harm.
Proverbs
We must learn to ask God to control us through His
Holy Spirit.
As the Holy Spirit controls us, our words will be
under control as well as our anger. Galatians 5:22-23
CAUTIOUS WORDS - Proverbs 10:19, Proverbs 11:13
Proverbs
Have you ever said something you were sorry for later?
We say things especially in anger, that we don't
really mean, and yet the damage is done!
Have you noticed that the more a person talks, the
more likely he or she is to say something they shouldn't say?
When we put no damper on our words, we are likely to
say things that are either sinful or disturbing to someone else.
Psalm 141:3 is a good prayer for us to memorize and
say every day. Set a watch, O Lord,
before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.
Not only should we cautious about the amount of our
words, but we need to be cautious about the quality of our words.
Proverbs
We should be cautious not to repeat things we know are
not true.
We should be cautious not to repeat things we are not
sure are true.
We should be cautious not repeat things that are true,
but are not worth repeating.
We do more to hurt the credibility of other
Christians, often when we don't mean to, just by repeating things that need not
be repeated.
Gossip is a terrible thing.
CORRECTIVE WORDS - Proverbs 11:14, Proverbs 25:12
Proverbs 11:14 - Where
no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors
there is safety.
Every Christian should have a mentor.
A mentor is a person that will help us grow in our
Christian faith, and one we trust for good, solid counsel. A mentor is also a
person not afraid to correct us when we need it.
You are probably familiar with two friends in the
Bible. The older man was named Jonathan.
He was the king's son. The younger man
was David. They were fast friends, I'm
sure David was able to learn and be encouraged by the words and actions of
Jonathan. One time David was on the run,
fleeing for his life from King Saul.
1 Samuel
Who is your David? Who can you encourage this week?
Who are you mentoring?
Proverbs 25:12 - As
an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.
My friends there are times when we all need to be
corrected.
And when we are let us be thankful when people do it
in a kind, constructive way.
I don't think any of us want to be known as people who
can't be corrected. Such people do exist.
Proverbs 9:8 - Reprove
not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.
There will also be times when we need to do the
correcting. Just as a piece of gold jewelry is beautiful, so is the correction
of a friend by a friend. It is beautiful
when the one doing the correcting is wise and the one receiving the correction
is open to constructive criticism.
Galatians 6:1 - Brethren,
if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one
in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
We all need corrective words.
We all need to learn to share corrective words
tactfully.
COMMENDABLE WORDS - Proverbs 25:11
Proverbs 25:11 - A
word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.
Nobody is certain what "apples of gold in
pictures of silver" refer to.
Perhaps it refers to golden fruit on a silver serving tray. Or it might
refer to ornamental golden jewelry in a silver setting. Whatever it refers to, we are being told that
the right word spoken at the right time by the right person is a beautiful
thing.
It is commendable.
There have been times when you've needed a word of
encouragement and someone gave it. That was a word fitly spoken.
There have been times when you've need to know some
information so your thinking wouldn't be clouded. Someone gave that. That was a
word fitly spoken.
There have been times when you've need correction and
someone quietly and tactfully did that.
That was a word fitly spoken.
There have been times when a preacher has given just
the message you needed to hear. That was a word fitly spoken.
There was probably a time when you needed to hear the
Gospel of Christ, and someone shared the Gospel with you. That was a word fitly
spoken.
Thank God for the people who have fitly spoken in your
life. These were commendable words.
Ask God to help you speak to commendable words to
others.
Ask God to give you a chance this week to share the
right words with the right people at the right time.
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Proverbs 15:1-4
WORD MANAGEMENT
Words are important. Like fire, when our words are
under control they are valuable. When our words are of control, they are dangerous.
Consider what Solomon has to say about words.
ADJUST THE VOLUME Vs. 1
ASSESS THE VALUE Vss. 2,4
ASSUME THE VIEW (Of the Lord. He sees and hears
everything.) Vs. 3
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Proverbs 15:1-4
SPEECH CLINIC
We live in an age when
there is a clinic for just about every problem men and women have.
There are cancer
clinics, cancer clinics, wound clinics, sleep clinics and a host of others.
In our text God holds a
"speech clinic". He tells us
about one of the smallest, yet most deadly body parts, the tongue (James
3:1-13). God tells us what we need to
know about the tongue so that we will use speech that is pleasing to Him!
A TENDER TONGUE - Vs. 1
The best way to diffuse
a volatile situation is with quiet comments. The best way to stir up a volatile
situation is with "grievous" words.
A THOUGHTFUL TONGUE -
Vs. 2
A wise man is one who
thinks before he speaks. He uses knowledge correctly. A fool doesn't think, but keeps talking! He
pours out foolishness.
A TESTED TONGUE - Vs. 3
No matter what we say,
the Lord hears us! God is always
listening and evaluating our words.
A TRUE TONGUE - Vs. 4
A wholesome tongue is
full of life. A perverse tongue breaks the spirit.
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Proverbs 15:15-17
LET'S EAT!
Most of us like food and like to eat.
In spiritual sense, there is eating going on as well.
Our text shows us three positive "meals" we
will have when we do what is right.
THE CONTINUAL FEAST - Vs. 15 - Caused by a merry
heart.
THE CONTENTED FEAST - Vs. 16 - Caused by fear of the
Lord.
THE COMPASSIONATE FEAST - Vs. 17 - Caused by love.