Few Words

In the wake of a great tragedy in my church, I was again reminded of a Proverb, "When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise." (Prov. 10:19)  So much is said throughout the book of Proverbs and throughout the Bible as a whole about our use of words.  Often the question is posed, "What makes for the words of the wise and the righteous?"  In the wake of tragedy, suffering, pain, failure, and regret, that question couldn't be any more important.  A tongue that lacks discernment and wisdom can do great damage to those already suffering. 

Before I give you a few thoughts on wise and righteous speech, I'd first suggest that Christians aren't always very good at measuring out words.  Most of us like ready-made responses, easily packaged and ready for distribution.  Christians have a tendency of speaking before we listen.  We are addicted to answers, always ready to help those suffering understand "why."  Unfortunately, if we aren't careful that can sound very arrogant to those splashing around in the waters of uncertainty.  There is a certain posture and pace to faithful speech.  The posture is open, receptive, discerning, and actively listening - weighing every word, tear, claim, and fear that comes from the mouth of another.  The pace isn't frantic, desperate, reactive, or grasping for straws.  It is measured, deliberate, and prayerful.  If we are eager to leap to speak many words, we may be rushing headlong into damage and disaster. 

So what makes for wise and righteous speech.

1.)  Patience: The mouth of the wise is never rushed to speak.  She is careful, ensuring all has been heard.  He recognizes there is a season for everything, a season for sitting with, a season of doing for, a season of listening to, and a season of speaking.

2.)  Compassionate:  The words of the wise aren't used as trump cards over suffering and trial, rushing people to a place they aren't ready to arrive.  The wise first step into the heartache and suffering of another.  In that space there is room for venting, struggling, wrestling, anger, catharsis...and that can be validated.  Sometimes we can earn the right to speak only after we've suffered alongside one another.

3.)  Prayerful:  Faithful speech emerges out of the well-spring of prayer.  Regular practice of intentional prayer attunes us with the heart of God, grants us the discernment of the Spirit and helps us in those moments when words need to be spoken to say only as much as needs to be said.

4.)  Prudent:  The wise person simply knows what to say, how to say, when to say, what needs to be said.

5.)  Humble:  The faithful speaker doesn't suggest that he or she knows more about God than can actually be known.  They dance on the edges of mystery.  They linger in the expressions of faith that recognize the gulf that exists between the thoughts of God and our thoughts.  She avoids the pithy cliches of Christian-ese.  He has stood at the shore of infinite ocean of God's love and grace and has been left speechless.  Beautiful speech often only comes after one has encountered a God that has left them bumbling and groping for something to say.

6.)  Confidence:  This may seem odd, since I just said humility.  However, there comes a moment when words are necessary.  I believe if we have been steeped in prayer, bathed in compassion, attentive and discerning, contrite in heart, and saturated with the Word of God that there comes a moment when we can speak faithful, confident words of healing, grace, hope, challenged, and freedom into the lives of those that need to hear those words.  Such words are sweeter than honey because they haven't been pre-packaged and manufactured, but emerge from a heart that beats to the rhythm and pace of God's heart.