How many conversations did you have yesterday? Did they all bring positive results to everyone involved? Or were there a few bumps in the road?

There are so many opportunities to speak each day. With each use of our tongue, there is an opportunity to kindle light or to ignite a scorching flame. Proverbs 15:28 informs us, “The heart of the righteous studieth to answer: but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things.”

Let’s look at the wisdom contained in this verse, which teaches us to think like God before we speak.

The word “studieth” means to ponder;“to answer” means respond. Here is a person who is using his God-given mind the way the Creator intended. This individual does not allow his mouth to pull him along. Instead, he considers his words in advance, and weighs his next verbal move. Not every thought comes out of his mouth. He also knows that at times it’s best to refrain from saying anything.

Undoubtedly, you have had occasion to realize the value of thinking before you speak. Is it possible that the reason we so often slip in this area is because we do not consider what we are going to say?

Tame Your Tongue

The Apostle James wrote in his epistle that he who does not offend in speech is a perfect (or totally complete) man. Which one of us lives up to the standard God has given here? Yet, with God’s help, we can grow more and more into this measure of spiritual maturity and completeness.

In The Epistle of James, Mr. Gerald Flurry writes, “Why is it so important that we learn to tame our tongues? Because we are preparing to teach every person who has ever lived. We need the mind of Christ to direct everything we say. Jesus Christ continually spoke uplifting words while He was here on Earth. With His mind in us, we can do the same!”

Notice the second half of Proverbs 15:28: “[B]ut the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things.” Consider the words “poureth out.” The Hebrew means gush forth, or to emit (like a foul odor). This is a person with little or no restraint. This is a picture of someone with an odorous air about them, so concentrated that you can actually see the odor—slugging through the air, trailing just above the ground. As long as their mouth is open, this repulsive stench flows out. What a picture!

God has quite a bit more to say about the value of guarding your tongue in the Proverbs. Take the time to study Proverbs 13:3; 21:23; 30:32.

Think First—Speak Second

In Proverbs 15:28, the order is: Think first. Speak second. How many misunderstandings and conflicts would be avoided if each of us did this consistently? More importantly, what can we do to be sure we think like God before we speak?

The first thing you can do in a conversation, before you answer, is ask yourself, “Am I reasoning with God?”

The “heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked”—it has a plague—and that will be the heart we answer with, if we’re not thinking like God. Can we really afford to let the selfishness of human nature respond?

Adam Clarke’s Commentary speaks about how our tongue and our wit should never be in a race; the mind should always lead the tongue. It’s like the mind is the driver and the tongue is merely a passenger in the back seat. Yet, we must never allow the tongue to be a backseat driver.

Look again at Proverbs 15:28. What are the righteous pondering? How to respond righteously! The righteous (through God’s power) will answer righteously in the spirit of God’s love.

“We are ambassadors for Christ. We speak for Him. Do you talk like God? Do you talk like the Bible? Is your speech grounded in God’s Word?” Gerald Flurry writes (ibid).

Secondly, be sure to muse on scriptures you study throughout the day. As already mentioned, the word “studieth” means to ponder, which is the second meaning in Strong’s Concordance; it’s first meaning is to murmur, or in other words, to talk with oneself in the mind.

In this case, the “murmuring” can be good or bad (Strong’s even says “in pleasure or anger” referring to the meaning murmur). This word is even translated as “meditate” and “imagine” in the Bible. The context shows this is one of God’s people mulling over a proper, godly response in the mind. Young’s Literal Translation says, “The heart of the righteous meditateth to answer ….”

Although the word “studieth” does not mean literally “to study a book,” you can certainly see how Bible study is the foundation of this meditating, or deep thinking. So, in that way, it all begins with our daily Bible study. Those scriptures we study can be thought about throughout the day.

When we ponder the truths of the Bible in order to respond positively to others, we will be ready to say the right thing when conversations arise that may surprise us. “We must control our tongue,” Mr. Flurry continued, “because we are destined to control the universe.”

The more we think before we speak, the more we will approach communication like our heavenly Father and qualify for this tremendous role being prepared for us.