Proverbs 15
I would offer that the word love is not a verb, it is a noun. It is not a thing you do. It is the light that you are made of and what you were created to be.
Gentle Words
1 A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare.
2 The tongue of the wise makes knowledge appealing, but the mouth of a fool belches out foolishness.
3 The Lord is watching everywhere, keeping his eye on both the evil and the good.
4 Gentle words are a tree of life; a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.
5 Only a fool despises a parent’s discipline; whoever learns from correction is wise.
6 There is treasure in the house of the godly, but the earnings of the wicked bring trouble.
7 The lips of the wise give good advice; the heart of a fool has none to give.
8 The Lord detests the sacrifice of the wicked, but he delights in the prayers of the upright.
9 The Lord detests the way of the wicked, but he loves those who pursue godliness.
10 Whoever abandons the right path will be severely disciplined; whoever hates correction will die.
11 Even Death and Destruction hold no secrets from the Lord. How much more does he know the human heart!
12 Mockers hate to be corrected, so they stay away from the wise.
13 A glad heart makes a happy face; a broken heart crushes the spirit.
14 A wise person is hungry for knowledge, while the fool feeds on trash.
15 For the despondent, every day brings trouble; for the happy heart, life is a continual feast.
16 Better to have little, with fear for the Lord, than to have great treasure and inner turmoil.
17 A bowl of vegetables with someone you love is better than steak with someone you hate.
18 A hot-tempered person starts fights; a cool-tempered person stops them.
19 A lazy person’s way is blocked with briers, but the path of the upright is an open highway.
20 Sensible children bring joy to their father; foolish children despise their mother.
21 Foolishness brings joy to those with no sense; a sensible person stays on the right path.
22 Plans go wrong for lack of advice; many advisers bring success.
23 Everyone enjoys a fitting reply; it is wonderful to say the right thing at the right time!
24 The path of life leads upward for the wise; they leave the grave behind.
25 The Lord tears down the house of the proud, but he protects the property of widows.
26 The Lord detests evil plans, but he delights in pure words.
27 Greed brings grief to the whole family, but those who hate bribes will live.
28 The heart of the godly thinks carefully before speaking; the mouth of the wicked overflows with evil words.
29 The Lord is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayers of the righteous.
30 A cheerful look brings joy to the heart; good news makes for good health.
31 If you listen to constructive criticism, you will be at home among the wise.
32 If you reject discipline, you only harm yourself; but if you listen to correction, you grow in understanding.
33 Fear of the Lord teaches wisdom; humility precedes honor. (NLT)
insights
Proverbs 15:4
What are gentle words? I think of gentle words as the words a mother speaks to her newborn baby, overflowing with kindness and love, and a unique, unmistakable tone of voice that makes one feel cared for. More than what is said, the way it is said , like a gentle rain that caresses your soul.
Just as the gentle words spoken can make us feel secure and loved, harsh and deceitful words can cut us to the bone and leave us in total despair. Our harshly spoken words can have a lasting and devastating effect on those we may or may not intend to hurt.
Proverbs 15:22
We were not meant to do things totally on our own. We achieve more for ourselves, for our families, and for God, when we work together in synergy encouraging each other with gentle words. When we insist on doing things all our way and on our own we accomplish far less and often for prideful reasons.
God has gifted us each with unique skills and talents, that when joined with the skills and talents of those He puts in our path, will allow us to accomplish far more, with less effort. The early church understood that as a community, they could work together to provide for the needs of all, and at the same time do a mighty work in the name of the Lord! It was the efforts of these community churches, that ignited the spreading of the gospel message throughout the known world.
In the same manner, we are not meant to be separated from God. On our own we can accomplish little, but with His guidance and for His Glory we can accomplish great things! He calls us all to walk in His grace and allow Him to lead us to the abundance He has waiting for us.
Proverbs 15:28
What we fear and are anxious about escapes our lips so easily without a thought, but the wise will consider and consult God before speaking. We see a true servant of God putting this into practice in Nehemiah 2:4.
“The king said to me, “What is it you want?” Then I prayed to the God of heaven, and I answered the king…”
First Nehemiah prayed, then he answered the question he had been asked.
If only we could learn to take that one extra step before we open our mouths, we would change the way we relate to each other and dramatically increase the joy in our lives.
lynnibug
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