How to get along with people Series Lesson 8 Speech IS an Awesome Gift from God who taught you and me how to understand and speak words? And who explained to us how to put together a sentence that asked a question? The ability [to speak] comes so naturally that we are apt to forget what a miracle it is, someone has written. Language is not a cultural artifact that we learn the way we learn to tell time .. Instead, it is a distinct piece of the biological makeup of our brains. Christian believers would say that when God created our first parents, He gave them the ability to speak and understand words. Made in the image of a God who communicates, human beings have the wonderful gift of speech. The answer of the tongue is from the Lord (16:1). God spoke to Adam and gave him instructions about life in the garden, which he later shared with Eve; they both understood what God told them (Gen. 2:15-17; 3:2-3). Adam was able to name the animals (2:18-20) and to give a descriptive name to his bride (vv, 22-24). Satan used words to deceive Adam and Eve (3:1-5), and Eve must have used words to persuade her husband to eat (v, 6). The Garden of Eden was a place of communication because God gave Adam and Eve the ability to understand and use words. The images used in Proverbs for human speech indicate the value of this divine gift that we not only take for granted but too often waste and abuse. Wise words are compared to gold and silver. The tongue of the just is like choice silver: the heart of the wicked is little worth (Prov. 10:20). A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver. Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold is a wise mans rebuke to a listening ear (25:11-12 ). Our words ought to be as beautiful, and valuable as the most precious jewelry; we ought to work as hard as the craftsman to make them that way. (See Eccl. 12:9-11.) Words are also like refreshing water. The mouth of a righteous man is a well [fountain] of life (Prov. 10:11). The words of a mans mouth are deep waters; the wellspring of wisdom is a flowing brook (18:4 ). When we listen to and appropriate the words of a godly person, its like taking a drink of refreshing water. The law of the wise is a fountain of life (13:14), and the fear of the Lord is a fountain of life (14:27). But it isnt enough for the wise to speak to us; we must be prepared to listen. Understanding is a wellspring of life to him who has it (16:22 ). The soil of the heart must be prepared and the seed of the Word planted, or the water wont do us much good. Right words are like nourishing, health-giving food. The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life, but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit (15:4 ). What a wonderful thing it is to say the right words and help to heal a broken spirit! The phrase tree of life means source of life and goes back to Genesis 2:9.3 The lips of the righteous feed many (Prov. 10:21; see 18:20). Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the bones (16:24 see Ps. 119: 103). Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing (Prov. 12:18 ; see 12:14; 13:2). The apostle Paul considered biblical doctrine to be healthy doctrine (sound doctrine, ) that nourishes the believers spiritual life. He warned Timothy to beware of anything that was contrary to sound [healthy] doctrine (1 Tim. 1:10),
Posted on: Tue, 20 May 2014 11:06:41 +0000
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