Only sixteen days left in our reading through the bible. The year has gone by so quickly! What a wonderful experience it has been to read all the way through the bible. I hope and pray many of you have been encouraged by this and will continue to read the scripture daily.
The mouth and our words show up again in chapter 15. But there is another theme here that is repeated throughout the proverbs and bears considering carefully. The proverbs have a great deal to say about receiving instruction, correction, and rebuke. Clearly the message is that the wise person receives instruction, and even rebuke, gracefully and benefits from it. Being “proverbs,” of course the opposite is also highlighted–the person who does NOT recieve instruction, take heed to correction, or accept rebuke is a fool and will perish. The contrast is very strong. Despising a parent’s instruction, hating rebuke, ignoring instruction all bring destruction and death. The proverbs say that the person who has this attitude “despises themselves” (vs. 32). On the contrary, heeding instruction, heeding admonition, seeking understanding, all lead to joy and wisdom.
This chapter also talks about the soft answer as opposed to the hot-headed reaction. Verses 1, 18, and 23 all speak about the person who has control over their tongue and as a result can turn away wrath or calm contention. But the person with a temper–the one who is unable to control their tongue–stirs up more anger and strife. Verse 23 says it with exclamation–a word well spoken, how good it is! When we are confronted with angry, hot-headed people, with the help of the Spirit we can turn away the anger and be a calming influence with our soft answer and our being “slow to anger.”
Many years ago my husband Drew worked for the American Red Cross. He would often get very troubled and angry people on the phone. Drew would just listen and not say a word. No matter how viscious and irrational the complaints, he would just listen. After awhile the ranting person would stop and say, “Are you there?” They were totally taken off guard by his NOT answering their angry tirades. And often they would apologize and then Drew would be able to help them or they would hang up in exasperation that they could not get a rise out of him. A soft answer, or no answer at all is often the best response to angry and hot-headed people. In a day and age where road rage can bring death, it is no small matter that we learn to control our reactions to the insults and rudeness of others. Jesus himself did not answer those reviling him, even on the cross. In the midst of their taunting and accusations he whispered to the Father, “forgive the, for they do not know what they are doing.” Whew! Now there’s self-control!