Apples

“She opens her mouth with wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness” (Proverbs 31:26).

She responds with wisdom

My grandchildren love to build block towers. Inevitably, however, as the last block is painstakingly put into place, Godzilla enters the room in the form of a two-year-old baby brother, Crash! Every last block comes tumbling to the ground with the greatest of ease.

It has been said that “the most ferocious monster in the world has its den just behind the teeth.”

Have you ever had those words of destruction pry their way out of those pearly gates and cause total devastation before you can bat an eye? I have!

You wish that you could pull the chain back or press rewind, but it is too late. The damage has been done.

Proverbs 14:1 says, “The wise woman builds her house, But the foolish pulls it down with her hands.” We don’t want to tear down, we want to build up. So we need to choose our words carefully.

Death and life are in the power of the tongue—the choice belongs to me as to how I will use my tongue. My words can either be constructive or destructive.

Ephesians 4:29 tells us to “not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”

This word “unwholesome” speaks of that which is corrupt or foul and was used to describe rotten fruit, vegetables, or other spoiled food. I don’t want to infect my children, husband, family, and friends with the rotten fruit of a critical and complaining tongue.

Jesus says that the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart, so if I am filling myself up with the wisdom of the world through TV, magazines, or any other constant barrage of media, I will react in worldly fashion; basically with a “me-first” attitude. We often belittle others to make ourselves appear better.

James 3:13-18 contrasts worldly wisdom—that which is full of bitterness, envy and self-seeking—with wisdom from above—that which is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.

If I am spending time with the Lord and listening to His voice and meditating on His Word, then I will have an attitude that puts others needs above my own.

The virtuous woman’s tongue is ruled by the law of kindness. The word “kindness” is defined as gentleness, compassion, benevolence.  The opposite of kindness is “severity” or “cutting something short and quickly.” Is my tongue kind, or is it severe and cutting?

The apostle Paul, in writing to the Philippians, says, “Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

I need to think before I speak

Is what I am about to say True or Thoughtful? Is it Honorable? Is it Inspiring? Is it Necessary? Is it Kind?

Isaiah 50:4 says, “The Lord God has given Me the tongue of the learned, That I should know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary. He awakens Me morning by morning, He awakens My ear to hear as the learned.”

Is this true of us? Are we spending time with the Lord so that He can fill us with His wisdom? Are we building up others around us with God’s Word?

Do people come to us for wise counsel because they know we are women of His word, women of prayer, women of compassion who listen and care? Are we encouragers?

Is my home filled with the lovely sound of praise to our precious Lord? Do I pour forth blessing upon others, looking for the best in others; or am I always nit-picking, looking at others’ faults, gossiping, murmuring, and complaining?

There is a saying that an apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Which legacy do I want to pass on?

Proverbs 25:11 tells us that a word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver. If we are building our homes with gold and silver and precious stones, then we are building with materials that will stand the test of eternity (1 Corinthians 3:12).

Are you the wise woman who builds with her words, or the foolish woman who huffs and puffs and blows her house down! God’s Villa or Godzilla?