SPEAKING WISELY

Genesis 30:1-31:16; Matthew 10:1-23; Psalm 12:1-8; Proverbs 3:13-15

“’Please don’t leave me,’ Laban replied. ‘For… the Lord has blessed me because of you.…’”

“’Don’t worry about how to respond or what to say. God will give you the right words at the right time.  For it is not you who will be speaking—it will be the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.’”

“Help, O Lord, for the godly are fast disappearing!  The faithful have vanished from the earth! Neighbors lie to each other, speaking with flattering lips and deceitful hearts.”

“Joyful is the person who finds wisdom, the one who gains understanding.
 For wisdom is more profitable than silver,
and her wages are better than gold.
 Wisdom is more precious than rubies;
nothing you desire can compare with her..”

God wants my words to carry more meaning.  I’m pretty sure He wants us all to speak more wisely and lovingly.  This week included lunch with a friend, and a real conversation.  It’s spooky how my soul thirsts for that kind of contact, and how little I allow it. 

Instead, I speak too much and say too little, communicating without consideration and probably watering down the Message of Christ in the process.  People don’t need another reason to tune out the Gospel.  We already are well self-trained to aggressively filter messages, especially those we’ve heard before.  We “TIVO out” commercials; we multitask, giving half attention to our  “normal” conversations; we disregard profanity; we ignore constructive criticism.  So it seems to follow that Christians need more vibrant, personal and relevant language, and the boldness to speak as the Spirit directs.

In fact, we probably need to take more seriously – even rely on - the idea that God actually will give us His words, if we stay open to His Spirit.  Can there be any better counsel than the words of the One who created it all?  Lord, guide my heart and my words; help me to be authentic and real; and when my “flattering lips and deceitful heart” betray your Word, let it be your Word that ultimately is heard.