Today’s Superverse is Proverbs 17:27 – The one who has knowledge uses words with restraint,
and whoever has understanding is even-tempered.
Biblical scripture refers to wisdom gained through humility as having a “calm spirit.” Such a state doesn’t allow emotions to dictate our behavior or words, as well as not responding self-servingly when others commit wrongs against us. All Christians should strive to develop this quality as their relationship with Jesus deepens.
Proverbs 17:27 provides some key guidelines on how to achieve this quality. A person with a calm spirit understands when and where it is appropriate to speak; at such moments they are able to recite prepared answers without feeling rushed by emotions that rise within themselves, as well as know when it would be wiser for them to hold off speaking until they can create an accurate rebuttal that also acts as an effective means for diffusing anger and hurt feelings.
One who speaks from an evil heart will bring nothing good: An impure and deceptive mind cannot find any fulfillment through wordly means; all it leads to are lies and corruption. Because of this, it is crucial for each of us to pay close attention to what and how we speak; if our words do not align with His character and His will for us then these must be modified until they do reflect Him better.
A wise man is prudent in his speech: A prudent person does not engage in reckless or irresponsible dialogue that leads to more problems, since such talk indicates foolishness rather than wisdom. A person with sound judgment will only speak when something worthwhile has to be said that can benefit someone else.
Even the fool is counted wise when they keep quiet: This is an intriguing perspective to take, since many might assume that being considered wise requires speaking frequently; but in actuality, this may not always be true; oftentimes a wise person understands when and how much to speak vs when to keep silent and understands that silence speaks more of someone’s true nature than words could ever convey.
Conflict can quickly spiral out of control: Once it begins, it can be impossible to stop it and can result in severe damages. Thus, it is preferable to prevent conflicts rather than allow them to start.
An insulter cannot be overcome with repetition: Correcting those who profane God’s name can be challenging, yet harsh correction is even harder. Leaders in high positions should show wisdom and integrity when assigning tasks to their servants and not overwhelm them with tasks for which they are unqualified to complete.
God condemns those who take pleasure in seeing another suffer. Doing so shows disrespect for His majesty and should not be tolerated – such actions will not be forgiven by Him.
