Ponder or Pour?
September 25, 2010Ponder or Pour?
Think fast! We live and work in a time of instantaneous decision-making and constant communication. As soon as the situation is assessed, a verdict is pronounced and with the push of a button (SEND) we can let as many people as we desire know the determined outcome. We’ve become so accustomed to this way of living, anything else seems too sluggish and time consuming. We are all about saving time. But Proverbs 15:28 offers us this principle:
“The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer,
But the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.”
When was the last time someone asked your opinion or advice and you truly “pondered” all angles of the situation before you answered? It’s easy to shoot from the hip but often your aim is bad from there. Perhaps there’s more to the story than just one side. (By the way, there’s always more than one side…) Did you observe any telling body language? Is the question coming from heart that is hurting? Is the person asking still in the heat of emotion?
Communication is indeed a tricky business.
We want to help when someone asks for our counsel but just pouring forth our estimation of the situation may not be the wisest course of action. Take time to get more details– ask questions that will help uncover the feelings beneath the surface – and consider the entire set of circumstances. It might feel awkward to hold back your first response but it’s crucial you have a correct response. This is also alluded to in this same Proverb. It’s the “heart of the righteous” that carefully considers how to answer. To me, this is a call for us keep our own heart honest before God and before men.
Pondering may be something of a lost art these days but I think a return to “thoughtful thinking” is worth, well…pondering.
Looking for more words? Read Proverbs 10:14-21 and make a list contrasting the mouth of the wise and the mouth of the foolish.