Walking with the Wise #224: The Proper Reply

“The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer,

but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.”

—Proverbs 15:28

I care about people. Right now I am sitting in an airport on a layover in Philly, reflecting over the last three days, ready to head back home to Chicago after speaking at a Christian Russian youth conference in Connecticut. It was a fantastic time—sweet fellowship, inspiring worship, coupled with instruction and opportunities for confession and repentance. I had the privilege of hearing same amazing stories of sacrifice in the name of Christ as attendees, many of them immigrants themselves, recounted to me the inspirational stories of family members who were beaten, imprisoned and greatly persecuted for the name of Christ.

Equal to the inspirational stories of suffering and sacrifice were the stories of struggles with sin. After each session, I spoke with several young people (in the Russian tradition “young” is anywhere between 15-30) about their spiritual lives. Often times, I needed only to provide a listening and understanding ear as well as careful and precise counsel from the Word of God. As I listened, my heart broke, as I heard story after story of young men and women recount to me the battles of sin that they were waging—and often times, lost. I heard about fractured relationships, choices of regret, nagging doubts, and a general cry and plea for grace. As I sat and listened to each person, I knew that my words could greatly comfort, challenge, or cause great pain. I needed my tongue to act as a surgeon’s scalpel—deftly and precisely cutting where it need to cut—for those who were in sin, pain was inevitable, but if I were to cut precisely, then my words would hopefully bring about healing, not hurt. I needed to make sure that I listened carefully before I spoke, asking questions for clarification, and making sure to uphold God’s standard above all else, while keeping the Gospel at the forefront of our conversation.

Today’s proverb is a reminder to us that our words are powerful and that we must be discerning in how we answer those who are in need of our counsel. If we are righteous, then we are going to ponder or mull over how to answer them in a way that directs them to Christ. But if we are foolish, we will say many wicked things that will harm and repel them from the Savior who bought them.

Are you careful with your words? Are you practicing discernment whenever you offer counsel to others? Is the advice you give from the Word of God or is it simply the words and opinions of man? Ask God to use you to build up and bless, to bring hope and help, not harm or hurt. Give advice that glorifies God and directs them to positions where true joy is found. Amen.