Which Words

DEVOTION
PROVERBS
WHICH WORDS
Prov 14:3
3 A fool's talk brings a rod to his back,
but the lips of the wise protect them.
NIV
It would seem only right that a fool speaks first before engaging his brain. It may also be that these foolish people use their mouth, their words to abuse others because of the some form of pride which resides deep within them. When speech is based upon the human form of knowledge rather than on the truth of God it often may be rendered as prideful, especially when it is used to put others down or to show them their lack of such knowledge. I would consider the Word of God the only words which would bring encouragement to others. The words of human thought when used to express the intelligence of the speaker as opposed to the listener are weak at best to encourage anyone. The truth of this saying from God surely indicates those foolish people who speak such prideful arrogant words to slam others will find those words are actually smacking their own backs as a slave is caned with a rod. Those kinds of words only serve to demonstrate their slavery to the human condition under the control of the master of evil. On the other hand, wise people speak the words of truth which are founded upon the Word of God. It is only the words God has shared with us that bring healing to the broken soul. It is only God’s words which can bring salvation to the lost soul. The wise person speaks of such things and as a result lives his life according to those words. This type of speech will not only bring healing and encouragement to others, but it will keep the speaker from damaging his own spirit. God has said that as a man thinks so is he and thus thinking about the greatness of self will result in expressing it in order to prove how better one is then others. But when we think about God and our relationship with him, our words are based on his truth, not on ours. This and this alone will protect a person from the pitfalls of pride and the rod across his back. May I only speak of God and his truth, his creation, his plan for man.