Words Wise Men Should Not Use
Solomon is often called the wisest man in the Bible. As a youth, he asked God to give him wisdom, and our amazing God answered his prayer abundantly. “All the earth sought the presence of Solomon to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart” (1 Kings 10:24). If we want to share in this wisdom from heaven, we must spend time meditating on the words of this wise king. Look at these four times Divine wisdom says we should not talk.
There are things wisdom does not say.
Do not talk about helping someone tomorrow when you can help today. Solomon said, “Do not say to your neighbor, ‘Go, and come back, and tomorrow I will give it,’ when you have it with you” (Prov. 3:28). There are times when you may have to wait about helping another, but Solomon says help a person today if you can.
The context of these words have to do with benevolence, but the principle applies to many situation in our lives. If others ask us for spiritual help, we need to help them today! They may not come back to ask again when we do not eagerly show our willingness to help immediately.
Do not say that you will “settle the score” with a person who has wronged you. “Do not say, ‘I will recompense evil’; wait for the Lord, and He will save you” (Prov. 20:22). One truth taught repeatedly in the Bible is that no one will ever get away with doing evil. Paul says it this way, “God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap” (Gal. 6:7). How can you turn the other cheek? How can you give food and drink to an enemy? It’s very simple. Vengeance belongs to the Lord, and He will always repay (Rom. 12:19). There is no need for us to preempt God.
Do not say that you will treat others the way they are treating you. Listen to Solomon again. “Do not say, ‘I will do to him just as he has done to me, I will render to the man according to his work’” (Prov. 24:29). These words are diametrically opposed to the “Golden Rule” given by Jesus. Treating others like they treat you is a message from Satan. We live by a much higher rule, putting ourselves in their place.
Do not say that the past is better than the present. Solomon said, “Do not say, ‘Why were the former days better than these?’ For you do not inquire wisely concerning this” (Ecc. 7:10). It is not wrong to remember the past, but it is foolish to live in the past. Things are always changing, and while some things in the past seem better, we must live in the present world.
Do you want to be wise like Solomon? Then take time to read what he wrote. Make his words the words which rule your life. Sometimes we talk too much!