Proverbs 18:21 Commentary and Bible Study

This kind of follows the previous proverb. Fellowship watches its tongue. In this ministry of words we are very careful to put a value on what we say. Am I about to say something which is hurtful, destructive, or positive and honours the previous verse and edifying? The illustration in the parable of course is that of a war-lord or powerful king whose very word can execute or spare people, but in a sense every Christian is in the same position. Every word can help or hinder; every word can hurt or assist. If I can say when I speak to people, ‘O, it never occurred to me’, well that is a pity. We should be able to monitor the value of our words. ‘I don’t think I said much which was edifying today’, sometime we will say to ourselves. ‘I think I got embroiled in something which can hardly do any good.’ We need to examine ourselves, and help ourselves to speak things which are positive and constructive.