Wednesday Words of Encouragement: Apples of Gold

 Proverbs 25:11 ~

"A word fitly spoken and in due season is like apples of gold in settings of silver."

I love setting a table with china, cloth napkins, goblets, candles and everything to make it attractive.  Sometimes I will do this even if we don't have company.  There is something about a beautifully set table that makes the meal even more special.

So this verse in Proverbs appeals to me.  I love the mental picture I get of beautiful, golden apples and elegant silver all gleaming together on a lovingly set table.  And this is exactly like a word that is carefully and thoughtfully given. It brings beauty and produces something good in the person to whom it is spoken.

The assumption here is that our words are carefully thought out.  Before we offer advice or input, we think and pray over the words. We are wise in what we say and also in how we deliver them. Yet, how often do we simply open our mouths, and let careless words and advice come spewing out.  We then end up having to spend days and weeks and even years cleaning up the aftermath. I have struggled with this at times throughout my life and I'm sure some of you can relate to it also.

Another possibility here is that our words may actually be thought through and prayed over, but the timing can be off.  A word that is given at the wrong moment can do just as much damage as one that is carelessly given.  Perhaps a day or two or a few weeks need to go by before we offer advice or correction. 

Let’s remember to think and pray first before we let our words carelessly fly.  Let’s be deliberate in all we do, especially in this area of our mouths.  

We want our words to be given so that they will be received beautifully, like apples of gold in settings of silver.