This chapter includes a theme of listening before speaking.
“A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion. The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters; the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook. A fool’s mouth is his ruin, and his lips are a snare to his soul. If one gives an answer before he hears, it is his folly and shame. An intelligent heart acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.” (v2, 4, 7, 13, 15)
Have you ever spoken over top of someone else because what you had to say was ‘more important’ than what they were saying, and you just couldn’t wait to share it? Ashamedly I have done this, and still do on occasion. It’s so easy to become hijacked by our thoughts and words that we end up steamrolling over what someone else is currently sharing.
This chapter is very clear that it is far wiser to listen, gather information, and understand what it is we’re saying before we speak. If we do this, we ‘will be satisfied by the fruit and yield of our lips’ and ‘give life’ to those who hear (see v20-21). If we are careless with our speech ‘we will come to ruin’, ‘ensnare our souls’, ‘go hungry’, and ‘bring death to those around us’ (see v7, 20-21).
I know how hard it is to listen and ask questions to understand where the other person is coming from, rather than simply share my opinion – this is a constant struggle for me. Yet, I know that the two greatest commandments are to love the Lord our God, and love our neighbors – how can we do that without honoring and respecting them through listening?
I encourage us to ask the Spirit to help us learn proper respect for others, such as waiting for them to finish speaking before jumping in. If we invite God into our conversations He will gladly help guide our listening, and provide wise words to speak. The Spirit will help us display love, patience, kindness, and self-control in conversations if we ask Him to. I suggest we (especially I) start today.
Father God, our Provider and Protector, we praise Your holy name. Thank you for Your Spirit’s moment-by-moment guidance. May we lean on Your teaching of patience, kindness, and self-control in our conversations, and may we seek Your wise words for our responses. May we be curious and seek understanding before foolishly blasting someone with our opinions, and may we honor You with the fruit of our mouths. We praise You in Jesus’ name, amen.
~ Conqueror in Training