In what ways can our words reflect God's wisdom and understanding? The Picture Painted in Proverbs 18:4 “The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters; the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.” • “Deep waters” ‑ words can be rich, profound, and worth exploring. • “Bubbling brook” ‑ wisdom is fresh, clear, and constantly supplying life. Our speech is meant to be both deep enough to draw from and gentle enough to refresh. Speaking with Depth: Ways Our Words Reflect God’s Wisdom • Saturated with Scripture – letting passages like Psalm 119:11 shape vocabulary and outlook. • Thoughtful, not rash – echoing Proverbs 15:28: “The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer.” • Anchored in truth – reflecting John 17:17, where God’s Word is truth. • Consistent and reliable – mirroring God’s unchanging character (Malachi 3:6). Overflowing with Life: Ways Our Words Reflect God’s Understanding • Refreshing the weary – Isaiah 50:4 calls us to “sustain the weary with a word.” • Offering clarity – like a brook that reveals what’s beneath, our counsel brings understanding (Proverbs 16:22). • Healing relationships – “Pleasant words are a honeycomb” (Proverbs 16:24). • Guiding others to Christ – Colossians 4:6: speech “seasoned with salt” that points to the hope within us. Practical Steps Toward Wise Speech 1. Fill the heart first – Read, memorize, and meditate on Scripture daily (Joshua 1:8). 2. Guard the gate – Be “quick to listen, slow to speak” (James 1:19). 3. Check motives – Speak “the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15). 4. Aim for edification – Only words that “build up” are to leave our mouths (Ephesians 4:29). 5. Invite accountability – Welcome correction from faithful friends (Proverbs 27:6). 6. Pray before speaking – Ask God to “set a guard over my mouth” (Psalm 141:3). Scriptural Echoes That Reinforce the Lesson • Proverbs 10:11 – “The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life.” • Proverbs 15:2 – “The tongue of the wise commends knowledge.” • Proverbs 18:21 – “Death and life are in the power of the tongue.” • Matthew 12:34–37 – Words reveal the heart and will be judged. • James 3:8–12 – Fresh water and salt water should not flow from the same spring. When our hearts are steeped in God’s Word and our mouths yield to His Spirit, our speech becomes both deep and refreshing, unmistakably reflecting His wisdom and understanding. |