How can we ensure our words reflect the "choice silver" of Proverbs 10:20? The Value Pictured in Proverbs 10:20 “The tongue of the righteous is choice silver, but the heart of the wicked has little worth.” (Proverbs 10:20) • Choice silver is rare, purified, and treasured • God declares that righteous speech carries that same high worth • In contrast, the inner life of the wicked produces words of little value Purifying the Source of Our Words “Out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks.” (Matthew 12:34) • Words originate in the heart; a cleansed heart produces cleansed speech • Daily repentance keeps the heart free from impurities (1 John 1:9) • Meditating on Scripture renews the mind and guards the tongue (Psalm 119:11) Filling the Treasury of the Heart “The words of the LORD are flawless, like silver refined in a furnace, purified seven times.” (Psalm 12:6) • Store God’s flawless words within • Memorize passages that model gracious speech—Proverbs 16:24; Colossians 4:6 • Sing psalms and hymns that keep truth circulating through thought and emotion (Ephesians 5:19) Practical Steps for Silver Speech • Pause before speaking—“Be quick to listen, slow to speak” (James 1:19) • Evaluate motives—seek to build up, never to tear down (Ephesians 4:29) • Choose honesty wrapped in kindness—“A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver” (Proverbs 25:11) • Address conflict privately and lovingly, following Matthew 18:15–17 • Bless those who wrong you; repay cursing with blessing (Romans 12:14) Daily Accountability to the Word • Begin each morning by reading a proverb to set a tone of wisdom • End each day by reviewing conversations, confessing any careless words (Psalm 139:23–24) • Invite a trusted believer to speak correction when your tongue slips (Proverbs 27:6) The Fruit of Choice Silver Words • They preserve relationships by diffusing anger (Proverbs 15:1) • They guide others toward righteousness (Proverbs 10:21) • They adorn the gospel, making the grace of God attractive (Titus 2:10) By guarding the heart, saturating it with Scripture, and submitting every sentence to the Lord, our words can consistently shine with the luster and worth of choice silver. |
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