It’s GOD @ WORK WEEK here at GUWG, where we’re taking an in-depth look at what the Bible says about the wonderful world of work.
Today’s topic: COMMUNICATION. Almost nothing is more important in the workplace.
Here are five basic principles straight out of God’s Word to help guide your workplace discussions. Start using ‘em today.
It’s WORDS WEEK here on GUWG, where we’re examining what the Book of Proverbs says about communication.
For the final time, here’s our PROVERB-O-RAMA WHEEL OF WORDS:
We finish up today with our final two topics: SWEET and WOOOOO words.
Let’s start with SWEET. Here’s a pair of proverbs to roll around on your tongue:
Gracious words are a honeycomb,
sweet to the soul
and healing to the bones.
(Proverbs 16:24)
An anxious heart
weighs a man down,
but a kind word
cheers him up.
(Proverbs 12:25)
The world gets enough sour. Keep it sweet today. Encourage your spouse. Encourage your kids. Encourage your parents. Encourage your neighbors. Encourage your friends. Encourage your enemies. The possibilities are truly endless.
And last, it’s time for WOOOOOOOOO. Here’s a pair of joyful proverbs:
The righteous shout for joy
and are glad.
(Proverbs 29:6)
A happy heart
makes the face cheerful.
(Proverbs 15:13)
We began the week with Jesus’ words: “The mouth speaks what the ♥ is full of.” (Luke 6:45b). We have a choice. We can either have a deep dark ♥ full of BLEHHHHHHH that comes up and out of our mouth in words that we should never ever utter. Or we can ask God to fill our ♥ with JOY that wells up deep inside us until it comes spilling up out of our mouths with giant WOOOOOOOOOO!s and other cheerful shouts. Seems like a pretty easy choice to me.
It’s WORDS WEEK here on GUWG, where we’re examining what the Book of Proverbs says about communication.
Once again, here’s our PROVERB-O-RAMA WHEEL OF WORDS:
Today’s topic: GENTLE words.
Here’s today’s featured proverb, followed by a few other gentle reminders:
A gentle answer turns away wrath,
but a harsh word stirs up anger.
(Proverbs 15:1)
Let your gentleness
be evident to all.
(Philippians 4:5)
What do you prefer?
Shall I come to you with a whip,
or in love and with a gentle spirit?”
(1 Corinthians 4:21)
The unfading beauty
of a gentle and quiet spirit . . .
is of great worth in God’s sight.
(1 Peter 3:4)
Never forget our key verse this week. Jesus said: “The mouth speaks what the heart is full of.” (Luke 6:45b) What was Jesus’ heart full of? Here’s what he said about himself:
Take my yoke upon you
and learn from me,
for I am gentle and humble in heart,
and you will find rest for your souls.
For my yoke is easy
and my burden is light.
(Matthew 11:29)
It’s WORDS WEEK here on GUWG, where we’re examining Proverbs on communication.
Once again, here’s our PROVERB-O-RAMA WHEEL OF WORDS:
Today you get two topics for the price of one: HONEST and DIRECT words.
Let’s start with the truth (or lack thereof). According to USA TODAY, 91% of us lie “routinely.” 86% lie to their parents, 75% lie to their friends, 73% lie to their siblings and 69% lie to their spouses. Yikes.
God detests lies. Here’s what the Bible says:
A lying tongue
hates those it hurts.
(Proverbs 26:28)
An honest answer
is like a kiss on the lips.
(Proverbs 24:26)
In other words, lies are hateful and hurtful but the truth is like heavenly smooches.
To tell you the truth, lies are downright satanic. Speaking of Satan, Jesus said:
When he lies,
he speaks his native language,
for he is a liar
and the father of lies.
(John 8:44)
So, when we lie we’re speaking Satan’s native tongue. Think about that the next time you’re tempted to fib.
A close corollary to HONEST words is DIRECT words. Jesus said:
If your brother or sister sins,
go and point out their fault,
just between the two of you.
If they listen to you,
you have won them over.
(Matthew 18:15)
Waaaaaaaaaaaay too often we ignore those instructions and GOSSIP behind others’ backs. Here’s what the Bible says about that:
A gossip betrays a confidence
so avoid anyone who talks too much.
(Proverbs 20:19)
Without wood
a fire goes out;
without a gossip
a quarrel dies down.
(Proverbs 26:20)
The words of a gossip
are like choice morsels,
they go down
to a man’s most inmost parts.
(Proverbs 18:8)
To sum up in 8 little words:
It’s WORDS WEEK here on GUWG, where we’re examining what the Book of Proverbs says about communication.
Here’s a graphic depiction of Proverbs about the wise wielding of words:
First, we discussed how we shouldn’t open our mouths unless our ♥s are filled with the Spirit. Then we talked about keeping our words FEW.
Today’s topic: HUMBLE WORDS. Here’s what the Bible says:
If you play the fool
and exalt yourself,
or if you plan evil,
clap your hand over your mouth.
(Proverbs 30:32)
Let someone else praise you,
and not your own mouth.
(Proverbs 27:2)
Clap your hand over your mouth and keep it there until you ask God to fill your ♥ to overflowing with HUMILITY. Never boast or brag — let others sing your praises.
Or, put another way:
Do nothing out of
selfish ambition or vain conceit,
but in humility consider others
better than yourselves.
(Philippians 2:3)
It’s WORDS WEEK here on GUWG, where we’re examining what God says about communication.
Whoever said “sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me” was a big liar. Here’s what the Bible says:
The tongue has the power
of life and death.
(Proverbs 18:21)
The words of the reckless
pierce like swords,
but the tongue of the wise
brings healing.
(Proverbs 12:18)
Our words can fatally wound – they can stab, pierce and slash the ♥s of those around us. They can destroy friendships, kill marriages, bring down companies, ruin churches and start wars.
To help avoid all that devastation and destruction, we’ll spend the rest of the week probing perhaps the greatest collection of communication advice in the history of the universe: the Book of Proverbs. Here’s a handy graphic we’ll use to guide our discussion, a little something we call the PROVERB-O-RAMA WHEEL OF WORDS:
Just a quick recap …
We started the week with our key verse, straight from Jesus: “The mouth speaks what the ♥ is full of.” Then yesterday, we discussed how we should always fill up with the Spirit before even thinking about opening our mouths. That’s what the ♥ and the flame in the middle of the diagram represent. Always always always start the communication process there.
Once God fills your ♥ and gives you words to share with the world, the outer circles represent what the Bible says about what should come out of our mouths. We’ll begin today at the top with FEW.
Here’s today’s Proverb:
When words are many,
sin is not absent,
but he who holds his tongue
is wise.
(Proverbs 10:19)
Ask God to help you tame your tongue today. Keep your words few. And when you do speak, make sure it’s with words of LOVE.
It’s truly a matter of life and death.
It’s WORDS WEEK here on GUWG, where we’re examining what God says about communication on this planet.
We started off yesterday with our key verse, words straight from the mouth of Jesus: “The mouth speaks what the ♥ is full of.” (Luke 6:45b)
So, here’s today’s question: What’s YOUR ♥ full of?
In Galatians 5, God gives us a handy checklist to see where our ♥s are REALLY at. Here’s a list of what flows from the normal human full-of-yourself-instead-of-the-Holy-Spirit ♥:
Yikes. And that’s only a partial list — I excluded some of the more graphic ones. (The complete list can be found here.)
But there’s hope. Here’s what flows from a ♥ full of the Spirit:
If someone were to ask those closest to you to choose the above items that best describe the words that come out of your mouth, what would they say?
Our mouths speak what our ♥s are full of. Ask God to fill yours with LOVE.
