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F O O D F O R T HO UG HT • •
How do you speak?
READ: Proverbs 15
ONE OF THE CHARAC
TERISTICS WHICH MAKE
HUMANS UNIQUE IS
THAT WE CAN SPEAK.
WE DO NOT ONLY USE
WORDS FOR DIFFERENT
MEANINGS, BUT THE
WAY IN WHICH WE USE
THE WORDS IS ALSO
IMPORTANT. INTONATION
AND BODY LANGUAGE
ALSO FROM PART OF
THE COMMUNICATION
PROCESS. THE BIBLE ALSO
EMPHASISES WHAT WE
SAY, AND HOW WE SAY IT.
P
roverbs 15 has a lot to say
about our speaking habits:
In the first verse an important
statement is made “A gentle
answer turns away wrath, but a
harsh word stirs up anger.” The
truth of this statement will be
corroborated by every person
with life experience. How often
do we find ourselves in a conflict
situation where words are uttered
without thinking? The result is
that we often have to apologise
for our actions. You find people
with the ability to stay calm and
in control of their emotions.
REV WILLIE BOTHA
These people manage to do what
Einstein referred to on occasion
- to solve a problem the solution
needs to take place at a higher
level than the level at which
the conflict started in the first
place. To speak in the heat of the
moment will probably result in
us not listening very well and in
us putting our selfish needs first.
We want to express ourselves at
the cost of taking in information.
Conflict can be an opportunity
to make a relationship grow, but
few things are worse than poorly
managed conflict. A gentle answer
is not a sign of weakness during
a conflict, but a sign of someone
being in control of his or her
communication process.
The same idea is taken further in
verse 4: “Gentle words are a tree
of life; a deceitful tongue crushes
the spirit.” It is interesting how
the Bible for All translates it:
“When someone speaks to make
things better, he brings life, but
when he says something false, he
makes people despondent.” We
can say things to make things bet
ter. We hear a different mindset
behind this statement in Proverbs.
The agenda of this person is to
raise up, to calm and to defuse a
situation. On the other hand, a
person who is false makes people
despondent.
The way in which we speak is
probably emphasised best in
verse 2. “The tongue of the wise
uses knowledge rightly, but the
mouth of fools pours forth fool
ishness”. According to the writer
of Proverbs, you create an image
by the way you speak. Discussions
relate to what you say and how
you say it, and what you don't say
and how you don't say it. People
use this to decide whether we are
wise or foolish.
SENWES Scenario • OCT/NOV 2017
53