Sword Thrusts

Proverbs 12:18

There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts,
but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

We need to understand the consequence of our rash words – words which we speak without giving consideration to the person to whom we are speaking. Rash words are the ones we speak in anger. They are the flippant remarks we make. They are the “speaking my mind” words and the “I say what I think” words. Understand that whatever the intent may be, the effect is that of thrusting a sword into another person’s spirit.

Saying that a person shouldn’t be so sensitive with your remark is the same as saying that he ought to wear armor for his clothing. It is placing the onus on the other person to handle better your rashness. What needs to happen is for you to learn to speak thoughtfully.

That is how the wise speak, and that is why their words bring healing. They think how their speech will actually be received. Like the doctor who checks to see what his patient may be allergic to before he prescribes medication, so the wise person observes in the other person what speech his is capable of receiving.

Of course, the presumption being made is that the wise person desires to heal. That ultimately is the difference between rash speech and wise speech. The former does not care to heal; the latter does. Once you have the right motive, you will find your rash speech declining and your wisdom growing.