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Witness Wisdom

17 

An honest witness tells the truth;
     a false witness tells lies.

18 

Some people make cutting remarks,
     but the words of the wise bring healing.

Verse 17

If you want to know the truth, then ask an honest person. You cannot trust a person who lies.

Verse 18

Words can hurt, and words can heal.

An evil man’s words can cause much damage. He might upset or insult people. He might use words to make an evil plan. For example, an evil lawyer can use clever words to write an unfair contract. Words might not hurt in a physical way, but they can cause real trouble.

Words do not heal in a physical way either. However, they can bring help and comfort.

So, the first proverb is pretty straightforward, right? It's like saying, "Duh! Honest folks tell the truth, and liars tell lies." Nothing surprising there.

But Verse 18 goes a bit deeper. It's warning us about the consequences of speaking without really thinking things through. See, rushing into things can often lead to pain and regret. Wise words, on the other hand, should bring comfort and healing.

I came across this interesting article in Christianity Today that talked about how parents should bring humor into their homes but avoid using satire, especially when talking to their kids. Satire, by its nature, has a target or victim, and that's not what parents should be aiming for. Instead, their words should always bring healing, especially when talking to their children.

Now, here's the thing: Some folks use the truth as a weapon to hurt others. You might have heard someone say, "I'm just telling you the truth in Christian love," only to then tear the other person down. Proverbs tells us that speaking the truth isn't enough; it has to come from a place of love and healing.

Lemme ask you, think about when kids ask, "Why do I have to do this?" Adults sometimes react defensively and say things hastily, even when there's no real reason for it. So, ask yourself: Do your words bring healing, or do they cause harm? And when you realize you've spoken rashly, are you willing to apologize and make things right?

Struggle to Standing. Available on Amazon.  https://a.co/d/ev3YUqw

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