Time moves quickly, so we must be equipped to love others and maintain wisdom in our choices and free will.
Wisdom has always been a sought-after quality. In the Bible, we see story after story of those who asked God for wisdom in different situations, and we see the results of those who followed God’s wisdom and the unfortunate results of those who did not. In our culture, what were once absolutes or parts of a moral compass, like truth and wisdom, are now allowed to fluctuate depending on what the majority says or what doesn't get you “canceled.”
Regardless of our current world, in God’s infinite love for His children, truth will always be sought and wisdom will be gained from the never-changing and longstanding Word of God. God’s truth and wisdom He imparts to us are absolute and never-changing. Thankfully, we not only have the Bible to help guide us, but an entire book of the Bible, Proverbs, that is packed with wisdom for countless life situations.
Let’s look into the Book of Proverbs together and find wisdom that can encourage and assist us in becoming wiser in our conversations and love for one another this Fall.
Controlling Our Tongues
If you are reading this article during an election season, you are not surprised by the importance this first piece of wisdom has on our relationships, especially when discussing anything of a political slant. There are always points to make, sides to look at, and reasons you could question, but there is also a way to have a discourse that helps keep peace a priority. As Proverbs 13:3 tells us, “Those who guard their lips preserve their lives, but those who speak rashly will come to ruin.”
I encourage you to speak on your convictions and share the Word’s views on topics, but please keep in mind that self-control is a wise tool to use. And what might it look like to “guard your lips"? Take a brief pause before you respond to people, whether in person or online, and you will find that this gives you more time to consider your response and, in turn, relaxes the tension that might be building up within your conversation.
Have you ever posted something or said something in defense of yourself or another person and then wanted to undo “how” it was said? Many times, it is just as important to make sure that your tone, body language, and demeanor are under control to help maintain your influence and composure. It’s when we speak too quickly or without control that we can lose any influence we might have on the listener before we even get all of our words out. I always say that “reading a room” is imperative to making an impact and pausing before speaking can help us control our tongues.
Fearing the Lord
The problem with conversations that have opposing views is that both parties think they are right. If there is an acknowledgment of absolute truth amongst the participants, then wisdom and agreement are easier to obtain. Proverbs 3:7 tells us to “...not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil.” Having a fear of the Lord is imperative in living a wise life. Look to the Bible for direction in your life and decisions you need to make and you will find His ways are greater.
Many people will decide in their own eyes what to do, where to go, and what to say; however, when the results are negative, they will turn around and blame God. This is not a new concept as Proverbs 19:3 describes: “A person’s own folly leads to their ruin, yet their heart rages against the Lord.” God is the ultimate judge, and because He is our Creator, and Jesus is our Savior, we are not owed anything but are given blessings and joy through lives dependent on Him and His lavish grace on us. We also have free will, which means that if we don’t consider God in our decisions we cannot expect the outcomes to be blessed. Fearing the Lord is wise because it puts us sinful humans in our place, and rightly so. If you begin to think that you know more than God, you are destined for trouble and sin—and its repercussions will come knocking at your door.
Living in Peace
There is turmoil everywhere we look now. It’s in the workplace, at schools, in the community, in neighborhoods, and online. As Christians, we must be diligent to be lights in the dark and to radiate the love of Christ in our actions and words. Does this mean to cower down to others? By no means. We are to speak up for those who can’t and to hold fast to the truth, wisdom, and teachings of Jesus. We are encouraged to avoid conflict when possible and to speak in a manner of respect for our Savior and His children. Proverbs 20:3 reminds us that, “It is to one’s honor to avoid strife, but every fool is quick to quarrel.” I’m sure you know people who love to argue just to hear their own voice or get satisfaction from making someone uncomfortable or sad. We must remember the old saying, “Hurt people hurt people,” and sometimes the loudest voices are the ones that need our love the most.
I am not a confrontational person by nature, but I do feel that the longer I watch a news show or keep swiping on social media, the more likely I am to get my emotions stirred up and want to speak against what is said. There is a time and place for conversations online, but usually, the people behind the screen just want to start an argument for clicks and views. I have worked more on limiting my online time, especially as the political strife increases, and this has helped me tremendously. If you enjoy a peaceful environment and internal peace as well, remember this gem from Proverbs 16:24 and let it be an encouragement to you: “Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.” Take in those gracious words, choose what you let into your ears and mind, and let them come out of your mouth as the days move forward.
Having Hearts of Wisdom
The times we are in may feel unprecedented, but if we dig into the Word, we can find that many of our struggles and sins moving throughout the fabric of our culture are not new to God. That is why the Word of God is alive and active and speaks to us at any time and in any season of our lives. Our lives are short, and the longer we live, the more we should acquire God's truth to not only apply to our lives but share with others.
Time moves quickly, so we must be equipped to love others and maintain wisdom in our choices and free will. Doing so means we need to stay alert, stay in prayer, build community with believers for encouragement and accountability, and we need to ask God to help us, as it says in Psalm 90:12: “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”
Join with me as we fall into the season ahead in doing our best to maintain control of our tongues, a healthy fear of our Lord, and the motivation to live a peaceful life with our neighbors while strengthening our “hearts of wisdom” together.
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/Choreograph
