Proverbs 18 Devotional Study

Choose your words wisely

One night as a mother and daughter were doing their nightly routine before bed, the mom saw an opportunity for a quick, but important, lesson.

She took a brand new tube of toothpaste, handed it to her daughter, and asked her daughter to squeeze the entire tube out into the sink. Confused, but interested, the daughter did as she was asked. Once the tube was empty, the mother asked her to put all of it back in the tube.

“Our words are like that toothpaste,” the mother said. “Once released, our words cannot be put back in our mouths and forgotten.”

Proverbs 18 warns us of the consequences of using words carelessly. We can’t uncrush or un-offend someone, so we are to be wise about how we speak to others and value our relationships over the need to be right (Proverbs 18:14, Proverbs 18:19, and Proverbs 18:20-24).

Maya Angelou once said, “People will forget what you did and who you are, but they will never forget how you made them feel.” How we make people feel is a result of the words we say and how we say them.

Our words are powerful. They carry weight. So know what you believe and why you believe it, then articulate your faith in a way that is careful and intentional (Proverbs 18:1-7, Proverbs 18:13-17).

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Reflect:
Proverbs 18:1	Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom.
Proverbs 18:2	A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself.
Proverbs 18:3	When the wicked cometh, then cometh also contempt, and with ignominy reproach.
Proverbs 18:4	The words of a man's mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook.
Proverbs 18:5	It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to overthrow the righteous in judgment.
Proverbs 18:6	A fool's lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes.
Proverbs 18:7	A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.
Proverbs 18:8	The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
Proverbs 18:9	He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster.
Proverbs 18:10	The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.
Proverbs 18:11	The rich man's wealth is his strong city, and as an high wall in his own conceit.
Proverbs 18:12	Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility.
Proverbs 18:13	He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.
Proverbs 18:14	The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?
Proverbs 18:15	The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.
Proverbs 18:16	A man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.
Proverbs 18:17	He that is first in his own cause seemeth just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him.
Proverbs 18:18	The lot causeth contentions to cease, and parteth between the mighty.
Proverbs 18:19	A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.
Proverbs 18:20	A man's belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled.
Proverbs 18:21	Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
Proverbs 18:22	Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD.
Proverbs 18:23	The poor useth intreaties; but the rich answereth roughly.
Proverbs 18:24	A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

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