“Righteous lips are the delight of a king, and he loves him who speaks what is right.” Proverbs 16:13
“Stop! In the name of love…” As a child of the Sixties, I have fond memories singing this song. My sister, her friend and I, would grab our pretend mics and imitate the Supremes. Hand motions and all, we’d belt out the lyrics and believe we had center stage on the Ed Sullivan show. As children, we paid no attention to lyrics and sang only words attached to melodies heard on the radio.
As I familiarize myself with the Proverbs, I understand the importance of words spoken and those left unsaid. I’ve concluded holding back thoughts proves beneficial if the intention to speak wreaks destruction.
The question we all must ask ourselves when speaking is, “What is the most loving response I can give in the moment?” Often enough, love is silent, waits for the most opportune time, or the most profitable words for the relationship.
Scripture reminds us “Love is patient…” I must apply this principle in my conversations. God is known as the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and end, the first and the last, of all things. This should be the case in all conversations.
We earn love by words spoken and those better left kept to ourselves. Stated later in this Proverb, “A wise person’s heart is prudent, and the sweetness of his lips increases learning.” His mouth is wise in his speech’s timing.
When the nudge to “Stop” hits, obey. Only God knows the benefit of your quiet obedience.