Hi all. This will be our last lesson in Proverbs for now (of course there are MANY more verses and themes you could explore with your kids in Proverbs…OR there are 31 chapters, so you could start a family habit of reading one chapter each night of the month.)
As we read through Proverbs, we are learning about making wise choices. We have learned how to obey our parents and learn from them, we have learned that giving and helping others is a very good choice and today our last lesson will be about communicating well.
Do you know what it means to communicate? Communicate is when you talk or interact with someone else. The Bible has a lot to say about how we talk to other people.
Proverbs:
10:19: Too much talk leads to sin. Be sensible and keep your mouth shut.
12:18: Some people like to make cutting remarks, but the words of the wise soothe and heal.
12:13-14: Lies will get any man into trouble, but honesty is its own defense. Telling the truth gives a man great satisfaction, and hard work returns many blessings to him.
15:1: A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
15:4: Gentle words cause life and health; griping brings discouragement.
15:26: The Lord hates the thoughts of the wicked but delights in kind words.
16:23-24: From a wise mind comes wise speech; the words of the wise are persuasive. Kind words are like honey—sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.
17:27-28: A truly wise person uses few words; a person with understanding is even-tempered. Even fools are thought wise when they keep silent; with their mouths shut, they seem intelligent.
18:2: Fools have no interest in understanding; they only want to air their own opinions.
18:7: A fool gets into constant fights. His mouth is his undoing! His words endanger him.
20:15: Wise words are more valuable than much gold and many rubies.
29:20: There is more hope for a fool than for someone who speaks without thinking.
What do these verses say about how we communicate with other people?
They say we should:
- THINK about what we say before we say it. There is cute little saying floating around pinterest:
Before we talk to others we can think about the things we say. Is what I want to say true? Helpful? Inspiring? Necessary? Kind?
2. Not get angry quickly, but LISTEN to other people before. Sometimes your friends will feel differently than you and that’s ok…it’s important to listen to each other so you can understand how he/she feels.
3. When we use NICE words, they are like a good bandaid. If someone is sad, your nice words can help them feel better!
4. If we use angry words, it might cause more trouble. Again…let’s THINK about what we say and how that might make other people feel.
And Proverbs says that using nice words is like sweet tasting honey, like golden apples, like medicine, and like gold and rubies…treasures! Our words can hurt peoples’ feelings OR help them feel better. When we obey God, we will LISTEN to others and THINK about our words so that they can be GOOD and helpful.
Thanks again for joining us. Love to you all!
He Bids Them Come 