Apples of Gold

Apples of Gold Julia Bettencourt "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver."  Proverbs 25:11 Have you ever taken stock of the words you speak? It is sad to say that most of us don't. Our verse talks about words that are "fitly spoken". Do we think about our words before we say them? Most of the things in our lives we do we think about first before we do them, especially dressing ourselves. When we go to get dressed we think about whether our clothes are appropriate for where we're going. If we were on our way to a funeral, we normally wouldn't choose a bright red dress. We'd choose something black or subtle. If we were going out in public we would think whether our clothes matched before we put them on. We usually even think about whether something is comfortable before getting dressed. However when it comes to the words we clothe ourselves with we don't always think about whether they are appropriately chosen. We wouldn't choose our clothes by reaching around in the dark and just grabbing something to put on and yet that is how we dress our mouths sometimes. We haplessly grab anything to say and think it will do. Proverbs 29:20 says, "Seeth thou a man that is hasty in his words? there is more hope of a fool than of him." How much better our entire lives would run and how much better our relationships with others around us would be if we really were careful about the words we chose to use every time we opened our mouths. Referring back to Proverbs 25:11, it states that fitly chosen words are "like apples of gold in pictures of silver." When we speak that way it's a beautiful thing! Imagine being in a museum and looking at a beautiful painting of golden apples in an ornately crafted silver picture frame. It is pleasing and breathtaking to look at. The Bible equates fit words with something that is beautiful and lovely so why should we treat what we say so lightly? David prayed in Psalm 141:3, "Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips." Let's follow David's example and as we ask for God's help to keep our mouths and improve our words here are six things to ask ourselves. A   Are my words APPROPRIATE? "A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it!" Proverbs 15:23 P    Are my words PLEASANT? "Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones." Proverbs 16:24 P    Are my words PURE? "The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life..." Proverbs 10:11 L    Are my words LOVELY? "And all bare him [Jesus] witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth...." Luke 4:22 E    Are my words ENCOURAGING? "Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad." Proverbs 12:25 S    Are my words SOFT? "A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger." Proverbs 15:1 Did you know? The word "tongue" is referred to over 100 times in the Bible. The word "words" is referred to over 500 times in the Bible. The word "lips" is referred to over 100 times in the Bible. The word "mouth" is referred to over 400 times in the Bible. It is safe to say that our mouths, what words we say, and how we say them is important to the Lord.