These are two verses from chapter 12 that really struck me, and I felt deserved a blog to themselves.
The first comes from verse 18, which says,
Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. (Proverbs 12:18)
How often have you said something without thinking, and severely hurt someone you loved? Or conversely, how often have people done the same to you?
This can happen at any time, but it’s particularly common during arguments. We need to be very careful even when arguing to fight fair. What does that mean?
Basically, it means to not get personal with our arguments. To avoid saying things like, “You’re so stupid. How could you do that?”
Or, “You always do this. You never do that.”
Or, “You’re just too emotional. You’re not thinking straight.”
Or, “You’re too sensitive.”
These kinds of words don’t solve the situation. It just gets the other person’s back up, and they start fighting back with harsh words of their own. And as Solomon said, those words can pierce like a sword.
But words spoke in jest or in a sarcastic manner can cut just as deep.
So often, we make jokes at another person’s expense, never expecting them to actually hurt. But I can point to more than one time in my life where I have seriously offended people by doing so.
Our words should bring healing to relationships, but how often do our words instead wound the people we love.
Solomon goes on to say in verse 25,
An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up. (Proverbs 12:25)
Like I said, sometimes we tear down people in fun. But how much better would it be to build people up in love. That when we see someone hurting or distressed, we speak a word of encouragement. Or even to just say, “Can I pray for you now?”
That’s the kind of people God wants us to be. That’s the kind of person Jesus was.
What kind of person are you? Do your words wound? Or do your words heal?
Moment to Moment (Bible blog) 