PODCAST

Slow To Speak

June 30th, 2025

Proverbs 25:11-19         

Being slow to speak was seen as a tremendous virtue in the ancient world. We see this in verse Proverbs 25:15. We see a similar idea in the book of James (cf. 1:19ff.), when the ability to control the tongue is viewed as something to achieve for all Christians.

We have all experienced the power of words. The little childhood phrase of “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me” is a myth. We know that words hurt, wound, and do a tremendous amount of damage.

While words have power to do tremendous damage, they also have the power to do tremendous good when used the right way. Here in Proverbs 25, we see that being patient and using a gentle tongue can persuade a ruler. It can change things for the better.

In a world that often lacks patience or a disciplined tongue, what good could we do in a world if we embraced these virtues? How might we be able to change things for good if we use patient and gentle speech?

Author: Robbie Cansler