Healing Words

DEVOTION

ECCLESIASTES

HEALING WORDS

Eccl 9:13-18

13 I also saw under the sun this example of wisdom that greatly impressed me: 14 there was once a small city with only a few people in it. And a powerful king came against it, surrounded it and built huge siege works against it. 15 Now there lived in that city a man poor but wise, and he saved the city by his wisdom. But nobody remembered that poor man. 16 So I said, "Wisdom is better than strength." But the poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are no longer heeded. 17 The quiet words of the wise are more to be heeded than the shouts of a ruler of fools. 18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.

NIV

There are many ideas as to what this story of the little city is about, but in truth they are just ideas, for who really knows if it is fact or fiction. It could be fact, but it could be a parable to illustrate the point being made that wisdom is better than strength. How do we utilize this truth for our lives? It would certainly bear well upon how we share the gospel message or have conversations regarding the scriptures. The quiet words of the wise are more to be heeded than the shouts of a ruler of fools. There it is. There is no purpose in arguments over any issue, shouting at each other over something neither will agree upon. At times it is simply best, the wisest course of action to quietly suggest a change in topic. It might also be better to slow down in discussing any topic, think through the words before speaking them. All too often words spoken in a hurry are the wrong words and they can even be hurtful to the hearer. We have to try to remember a soft answer turns away wrath. There is also what seems to be some injustice in many cases. The wealthy seem to be heard more than the poor. It that the meaning of “Money talks”? Some people get the idea a person is wise just because they know how to attain wealth. Those of great wealth get national attention, are interviewed, even on their political views as if they are so wise about those matters. The poor man, or the common man is ignored or forgotten, maybe even seen as just a pawn is the game of life. It does seem wealth affords power, or control, a weapon of war, so to speak. But then that is the way of the world and we believers do live in that world, but we do not have to join in the fray. It is wiser to consider eternal matters then those of temporary standing. Yes, we have to earn money to eat and clothe ourselves as well as to provide shelter and even a few nice things. But what is our life goal? Is it  the things of wisdom or of strength? So we need to think about our speech, our words, whether they contain words of war or of wisdom. It is not a matter of how much wealth we have, strength, it is a matter of how much wisdom we have. Wisdom can save the day, but the words of a sinner, a fool can destroy everything, but most of all a relationship. How we speak to each other matters. Words of fools injure, but words of wisdom heal.