“Sometimes it’s best just to keep your mouth shut.” The words of my wonderful wife who can at times be very insightful. We joke around with each other just like most couples do, but never at the expense of each other’s feelings, never with the intention of inflicting pain. Most people on this planet can only speak one language, few ever master it, just enough for the needful daily conversations, rarely anything beyond that, and so in many cases when I speak to someone, the conversations are generally quite easy to discern. I mean this in no disrespectful or prideful way, it is a gift that the Lord has blessed me with, not the full command of languages, for I also only speak one, but the ability to hear what people are saying, even at times when they find it difficult to express their intentions.
The simple minded, as the Word of God calls them, (Prov. 1:22) are encouraged to seek after wisdom, to seek it above all other things, for its price is beyond comparison, but not only for ones self, the Scriptures are only relevant to others when we share them with others, and to be able to do that, you must not only study to show yourself approved, you must not only purchase a decent dictionary and a good thesaurus, but you must pray for wisdom. (James 1:5) Without the wisdom of God your words will be nothing more than sounding brass or a tinkling symbol, (1 Cor. 13:1) they will be eloquent with no substance.
I learned at a very young age that words can be the most powerful weapon we have at our disposal, they can be used to lift up, and they can tear down, any emotion known to man can be brought out of nearly any person with just a few simple words. The finest leaders of men and the most cruelest of them also know this to be true, they have mastered the ability to control people by making them think they are not even being led. Rarely are the strong followed for long, the one who has mastered the emotions of himself is most generally the leader amongst us.
The only words of true wisdom you will ever find are found in the Scriptures, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” (2 Tim. 3:16) Not a few verses picked out as some do, but all, every word is truth, and wisdom is only found in the truth. That is why my beautiful wife is absolutely correct when she says, “Sometimes it is best to just keep your mouth shut.” I will give you an example.
I know of a pastor here in the town I live in that wears a mask because of the virus and I am sure, because of the religious tenants he adheres to, because of the weaker brothers and sisters within his congregation. On the website for this church, there is a note that states that the church will remain open unless the governor determines it is unsafe to do so. Now, if I were to approach him and ask if the representative of this area is still allowing his church to remain open, he would take offence, for he knows full well that it is the Almighty he is to be serving, but at this time he has acquiesced that authority to a human being and his knowledgeable subordinates. I would be speaking the truth if I were to say to him, “So, is the governor still allowing you to hold services,” but, as you can imagine, it would not go over well, but yet it would be the truth.
The point would be to assist him in seeing that his stance is in fact wrong in the eyes of the Lord, but “The eye cannot say to the hand.” (1 Cor. 12:21) When do we hold back the truth, when do we just keep our mouths shut. I know that far too many born-again believers are keeping their lips sealed when they should be speaking, turn on the television or your internet and you will see this truth, but always for the wrong reason, for the fear of personal repercussions, they have not yet learned, “and they loved not their lives unto the death.” (Rev. 12:11) They still have within them fear, when men of God are to stand. (Luke 21:36)
If I am led to, I will speak these words to this pastor, if he is a man of God, he will learn wisdom, (Prov. 1:5) he will see if he truly believes that the wounds of a friend are indeed faithful. (Prov. 27:6) Or he will hate me, because I have spoken the truth. (Gal. 4:16) Either way, I will do only that which I have been commanded to do, and the sole reason will be for the glory of God.
How we accept words of wisdom, how we accept the truth about ourselves when it is revealed to us says much about our character, it reflects who we say we are in Christ against who we truly are. Hopefully those two individuals within us will be the same person.
