Masters of unsaid words

Wise people say things that give you new knowledge, but fools say nothing worth hearing. (Proverbs 15:7)

Churchill once said, "We are masters of the unsaid words, but slaves of those we let slip out." Words that just 'slip out' of our mouths are often the ones we come to regret. We make promises we have no intention of keeping, vow certain things that are really beyond our means, or create unrealistic expectations because we speak words that just aren't true. Wisdom in choosing the right words, at the right time, and speaking them in the right manner is something we must master if we want to have relationships that last a lifetime.

What words actually bring 'new knowledge' into our lives? Well, the first place we look for those words is in God's Word. We want to get into the Word of God so it can actually help us with sorting out the words we hear elsewhere throughout our day. Without God's help in 'sorting out' those words, we will entertain some that should have been ignored, while neglecting others that may have helped us a great deal. Always remember this - a person doesn't have the right answers - God does. He can use an individual to bring us confirmation of what we have heard from him, but we shouldn't look to people to bring wisdom into our lives.

The Word of God becomes a 'reference point', much like "NORTH" on a compass helps us determine the direction we are to travel. We might not realize that what we are reading will actually help us 'sort out' anything later on in life, but as long as we are getting God's Word into our minds and hearts, we will have whatever clarity we need. Wisdom comes in seeking God's direction first. His Word is more than just opinion or 'good advice'. We may not always appreciate the wisdom that we are gaining by spending time in it, but when we need it the most, we will see that wisdom play out in our lives.

Wise people say things that bring deeper knowledge. How is that? I believe it is because God often brings confirmation to our spirit through others who also love Jesus. He helps us understand his principles by giving us the example of that principle in someone we can relate to here on this earth. God knows perfectly well that we may have a hard time grasping some of his principles simply by reading or hearing them, but when we see them lived out in the life of another, then shared with us in a time when we need to hear it afresh, it cements those principles within our hearts. Just sayin!

More than just a plan

I have come to the conclusion rapid decisions and impulsive actions actually have a cost to them I may not want to actually pay.  Excitement fades - reality sets in and it is around for a long, long time!

Being excited about something is not enough. You must also know what you are doing. Don’t rush into something, or you might do it wrong. People ruin their lives with the foolish things they do, and then they blame the Lord for it. (Proverbs 19:2-3)

Being excited about something (or someone) is not enough - we must also know what we are doing! This is where we get the phrase, "fools rush in".  We indeed do stand a pretty reasonable chance of bringing ruin into our lives whenever we choose to be foolish in our timing, intent, or planning.  We need all three to be under the guidance and leadership of the Lord in our lives - timing is best when it is on his schedule; intent is better refined when it is filtered through his mind; and planning is best when it is under his watchful eye.

We might always want what someone else has, wish we could have gone where someone else has gone, or yearn for the accomplishments another has achieved.  We can live our whole life wanting, wishing, and yearning, but when we do, we miss out on all the living God intends for us in the "right now"!  We can live too impetuously and make foolish decisions, or live too cautiously and miss out on all God intends for us.  Either way, we are not living as full of a life as God would desire for us - we need the balance of both.

Excitement without knowledge is just not productive, is it? Enthusiasm is easily deterred by difficulty, laziness, and just plain dawning of common sense! People need more than good theory to produce something - they need the desire, passion, and commitment of heart, as well. We can offer all kinds of good theory, but it remains theory until the resources are put into it which actually turn it into reality. We can put all kind of thought into things we'd like to see changed, but until we take what is merely "theory" to us and begin to put it into action in our lives, it will remain an untapped resource! We can rush in without enough forethought to actually "cement" the theory into something we can put into practice within our lives, then wonder why it didn't "take". We can also reject stuff which could save us a lot of lost time and unnecessary worry - just because we don't want to make the effort. Either way, we end up almost accusing God for our lack of growth. How foolish is that?  Just sayin!