WFS

There are three questions one should always ask themselves before one precedes to opening the mouth and telling things to others about others.

If the answer to any is no, then leave it unsaid. How true this is and how many cruel and unkind words would remain silent as a falling leaf if these three questions were used as a standard.

Nehemiah Adams stated: “One of the first things which a physician says to his patient is, ‘Let me see your tongue.’ A spiritual advisor might often do the same.” One wonders if each of us would act as our own spiritual advisor by starting out each day with meditation time in God’s Word. We might then be able to see that our tongue can be used for kindness. If we asked God to use our tongue for His good, for His glory maybe then kindness of tongue could be managed. In Proverbs 31:26 we find that the virtuous woman has kindness down to a science, as we put it today.

1. Proverbs 31:26 - “She _________ her _______ with ________; and her ________ is the _____ of ________.”

In the age we live in we sometimes see the idea that women are not successful and fulfilled unless they have power over the world of business. But women have had power for centuries over the home, children, themselves, their roles of being wife, mother, friend, sister and they do it with great wisdom and love for the roles they are in. Learning to be the superwoman of the world is worth nothing if our private world is crashing down around our shoulders. Only with study of God’s Word as a guide to our lives and how we should be and then praying for His guiding hand can we be successful and fulfilled and learn to be kind in actions and in what we say. In Proverbs 31:10-31 the virtuous woman is praised by King Lemuel for her many talents and the role model she set for any woman. Take time to read Proverbs 31 and be familiar with the virtuous woman so that you can learn from her.

Ruth’s kindness to her mother-in-law, Naomi, is a wonderful example for us. Ruth shines in kindness both in actions and words. Her kindness to Naomi is what Boaz noticed and is recorded in the book of Ruth.

2. Find the scripture that shows Ruth’s kindness to her mother-in-law, and give it here. (Just where you found it, you don’t have to quote it.)

3. Discuss what kind of talents the virtuous woman of Proverbs 31 has and why that makes her a role model for women. If the word “discuss” makes you nervous then you may merely “list” her talents telling why each makes her a role model.

5. Proverbs 3:17 tells us what a woman characterized by self-restraint will have, what is it?

We need to use self-restraint with our tongues. Life is to short to drive people from the church because we have not learned to have self-restraint with our tongues. This poem gives us an idea why self-restraint is necessary.

6. I Peter 3:10 tells us: “For he that will love life and see good days, let _____ refrain his ________ _______ _______, and his ______ that they ________ no ________.”

Sometimes the best we can do is to remain silent. If we try to remember this remember this little quote when we are not sure if we should speak or be silent a lot will be left unsaid!

“I regret often that I have spoken; never that I have been silent.” -- taken from God’s Little Devotional Book For Women, pg. 26 --

7. Proverbs 10:19 - “In the multitude of words there _________ _____ ______: but he that __________ his _____ is ______."

8. Proverbs 17:28 says: "Even a ______, when he _________ his _______, is counted _______: and he that ___________ his ______ is esteemed a man of __________________."

In this verse we see that sometimes we can keep from embarrassing ourselves and others if we only remain silent! In this way the old saying , "Silence is golden" is true. When we feel the urge to express an opinoin we should first think about what we are going to say and what the impact will be and then we may decide it to be one of those instances where, the less said, the better!

I ran across a quote that helps to make the right choice of words when thought about:

"Kind words can be short and easy to speak; but their echoes are truly endless." -- God's Little Devotional Book For Women, pg. 48 --

9. Proverbs 31:26 seems to echo this thought: "She openeth her ________ with _________; and in her ________ is the law of __________."

Here we learn that sometimes we need to give a word of kindness to others no matter how short or easy, it is the thought that hits the mark. It is hard sometimes to know exactly how to respond when someone is grieving, having trials and hardships or a terminal illness, but, in most cases, people need to feel someone is thinking of them, the kindness of just a word can make the world of difference. If we learn nothing else in this lesson let us at least learn to set a watch on our mouth.

11. Psalm 141:3 - "Set a _______, O Lord, before my ________; keep the ______ of my _______."

By setting a watch over our mouth we will be doing something very important. We will be learning that:

"A minute of thought is worth more than an hour of talk." -- God's Little Devotional Book For Women, pg.178 --

When I told the ladies at church that I was going to be attempting to teach an online course on the tongue, one of them gave me a copy of a poem she had. I think it very appropriate as an ending to this lesson. Before I quote it here for you to ponder over I would like to tell you how it was used. It was typed up, attached to a piece of colored construction paper about 2½ X 5½ size. At the top a button was attached, you will see why as you read the poem.

Seems all has been said, in just this little reminder. I may frame this and put it on the refrigerator as a daily reminder!

I already plain to use the original I received as a bookmark so that whenever I see it I will be reminder over and over again to keep striving to always use the tongue in a kind manner.

As we end this lesson I want to leave you with something to think on and study often. If we would spend more time studying the Scriptures and applying them to our lives we wouldn't have so much trouble keeping our tongue under control. One of my students sent me this and I thought it was too good not to share. Oh how much we can learn just by listening to God's Word, oh how much we change just by applying it! Oh how often we think we have visited every avenue of improvement through man's offerings but we forget to just turn to the inspired Word that is given to us with hope that we will take it and hold it in our hearts and apply it to our lives so that we might live according to His will and spend an eternity with Him in heaven.

Don't Open Your Mouth

in the heat of anger, Proverbs 14:17

when you don't have all the facts, Proverbs 18:13

when you haven't verified the story, Deuteronomy 17:6

If you words will offend a weaker person, I Corinthians 8:11

When it is time to listen, Proverbs 13:1

When you are tempted to make light of holy things, Ecclesiastes 5:2

When you are tempted to joke about sin, Proverbs 14:9

If you would be ashamed of your words later, Proverbs 8:8

if your words would convey the wrong impression, Proverbs 17:27

if the issue is none of your business, Proverbs 14:10

when you are tempted to tell an outright lie, Proverbs 4:24

If your words will damage someone's reputation, Proverbs 16:27

if your words will damage a friendship, Proverbs 16:28

When you are feeling critical, James 3:9

if you can't say it without screaming it, Proverbs 25:28

if your words will be a poor reflection of the Lord, I Peter 2:21-23

If you may have to eat your words later, Proverbs 19:21

if you have already said it more than one time, Proverbs 19:13

When you are tempted to flatter a wicked person, Proverbs 24:24

When you are supposed to be working instead, Proverbs 14;23

"Whoever guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from trouble" Proverbs 21:23

(Borrowed from a Ladies Retreat via the speaker)

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