Proverbs 15:28
The heart of the righteous weighs its answers, but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil.
If we desire to influence others for Christ we have to learn to weigh our answers before we speak. So much harm has been inflicted upon friends and family because of so-called cash talk. Much ruin has befallen many relationships due to so-called frank speech. The invitation to “tell it like it is” can result in disastrous outcomes.
Beloved, wise believers know that words and ideas come in different weights. Some words we say to one another are too heavy for the tender hearts they are intended for. Take time to measure your ideas before you unleash them. Always edit your own thoughts, notions and ideas before publication!
How can we weigh our answers, beloved? Firstly, we must accept that not every raw idea that enters our minds is pure. Not every thought we think is original. We are all prone to subtle satanic influence. Look, if the holy Son of God was accessible to satanic suggestion, how much more are we (Mat 4:3)?
Another helpful strategy is to stop and think before you speak. Be swift to hear but slow to speak (James 1:19). Don’t be in a hurry to blurt out answers. Ask yourself what God’s Word says about the matter on the table. When you take time to think about what you’re thinking about, you can avert potential disaster and regrets. You’ll open the door for the Holy Spirit to quietly correct you before it’s too late.
Thirdly, never speak from a need to vent your feelings! Be in the habit of assessing your own emotional state before you answer back. When you send a text, email, picture or voice message when you’re upset, you run the risk of causing irreparable damage. “The heart of the righteous weighs its answers, but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil” (Pro 15:28). Saints beware.
Pastor Josh