June 21, 2025

One must be careful of their words. Many have fallen over words spoken, either out of anger or hurt. We are all guilty of offending others, sometimes on purpose, but other times inadvertently, not meaning to hurt, but because we said it at a time when the hearer was vulnerable, and the words were taken out of context. We have to give Solomon credit because he wrote about what he knew. We can’t expect that he suddenly knew everything about everything; some of what he learned was out of observation or experience. However, I do believe that God gave him wisdom beyond common knowledge because he was smart enough to ask for it.

Nevertheless, some things can only be learned through experience. The main point of this lesson is to carefully choose your words and be gracious; otherwise, you may be considered foolish. Let anyone listening to you, whether rich or poor, know you are a Christ-follower because the words you use are full of life and not peppered with expletives. In other words, don’t choose the words you use depending on who you are speaking to; let everyone receive your best.

The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself. The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his talk is mischievous madness. Ecclesiastes 10:12-13