Proverbs 31:26: Be to wise and kind

 

 

I was standing in the local supermarket the other day buying my groceries and I overheard a mother telling her children off. The woman sounded tired and frustrated by the antics that her children were getting up to and this resulted in her snapping at them in an exasperated voice with angry words.  We have, I am sure, all been there.  There are times when things all fall apart and we open our mouths and, words that we later regret, come out.  It may be to our child, our spouse or to someone else.  The fact is, what comes out of our mouths are not words of wisdom, far from it, nor words of kindness or gentleness.  I am very guilty of this.

Yet when reading Proverbs 31:26 our words should not be rude, tense, harsh or wounding, instead they need to be edifying and helpful.  Our conversations need to be wise, gentle, pleasing, gracious: “She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.”

 

Even when life around us goes out of control, when we are upset or angry we must not be sullenly silent, nor full of impertinent talk, but speaks discreetly and piously.  Our speeches must be guided by wisdom and grace, and not by inordinate passions.

The Proverbs 31 women guides her family daily, including her husband, with words of wisdom from the law of God.  She is the teacher to her children and out of her mouth, it says in verse 26, comes the teaching of kindness -  the law of God, the law of kindness.  Kindness - much needed in this world when everyone is only looking after themselves.  What a difference a little kindness would make in many of our homes today. 

Other verses to remember when we are about to open our mouths.

"A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger." Proverbs 15:1

"Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath." James 1:19