A person who slanders is one who makes false charges or false statements (or half-true statements) about another person, and these statements are meant to do harm! See Proverbs 16:28.
Did Joseph and Potiphar enjoy a good friendship (Genesis 39:1-6)?________
Did a slanderous woman ruin this relationship (Genesis 39:7-20)? ______
May we be careful to never accuse someone falsely. Would you want someone to attack you with words? If not, then don’t do this to others (see Matthew 7:12)!
Excessive Words
There is a real danger in the use of too many words:
In the ______________________ of words there wanteth (lacketh) not ______but he that refraineth his lips is__________
(Proverbs 10:19).
The wise man learns to S________________ his words (Proverbs 17:27). The wise man learns to close his mouth (see Proverbs 17:28). HE IS A FOOL, NOT WHO HAS UNWISE THOUGHTS, BUT WHO UTTERS THEM. If you close your mouth they might think you are a fool but if you open your mouth you prove it!
Before we answer with our mouth we should ___________ with our ears (Proverbs 18:13)!
In James 1:19 we are told to be _________ (quick) to hear, ____________ to speak. God has given each person two ears and only one mouth. This seems to indicate that God wants us to do more listening than talking! It is very easy to interrupt someone and answer someone before we have really listened and thought carefully about something. Better to be a fool than to be a person who is ___________________ in his words (Proverbs 29:20). Some people are quick to open their mouth and let it all spill out (like when you turn over a garbage can!). How much better to close the mouth and guard very carefully that which comes out!
When it comes to talk, a good rule to follow is this: WEIGH IT BEFORE YOU SAY IT! (Think before you speak!) If after weighing your words, you determine that what you are about to say is true, kind, necessary and helpful, then say it. Remember, once the words go forth, you can never bring them back!
Next - Conclusion of Our Words; "Our Words". Hope you enjoyed it and learned something about words, I sure did!
