The mouth of the righteous flows with wisdom,
but the perverted tongue will be cut out. 

Proverbs 10:31

As followers of Jesus Christ, our lives should be overflowing with His righteous wisdom. This is certainly with words, but also with actions as well as showing restraint. I think a truly wise person is known as much for what she doesn’t say or what actions she doesn’t take as for the wise counsel and loving actions she provides. Truly wise individuals match their walk with their talk.

Our culture today is filled with those who talk and good game, but their actions are anything but wise. We may be tolerant such a person for a while or even think it’s funny, but eventually their actions do speak louder than words and we tire of hearing about their foolish dealings and suffering with the consequences that encircle so many. 

It all comes down to what is in our hearts; the world’s foolishness or God’s wisdom. You read that correctly. The choice between foolishness or wisdom is not just of the mind or emotions; as Jesus pointed out often, they both flow from our heart; in other words, from our inner spirit. 

But the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and those defile the man.

Matthew 15:18

Jesus’ half-brother adds so much to the discussion of wisdom vs foolishness and the deep heart issues that dictate which words and behaviors pour out of us. We will glimpse some of it here and reference his amazing New Testament book again in future days. 

But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace
by those who make peace. 

James 3:17-18

If that phraseology sounds familiar, it should. Paul speaks of the same foundational qualities in a wise Christ-follower. Chapter five of Galatians is an admonition from Paul to the Galatian church asking them a serious question. Basically, believers in Galatia were being taught foolishness from within the church from someone and that was pitting them against one another and causing them to make foolish choices embracing sinful thinking and behavior. 

You were running well;
who hindered you from obeying the truth? 

Galatians 5:7

Some of them had thrown godly wisdom out the window, so to speak, and Paul was not having it. These famous verses were his reminder to his fellow Christians that it is deep within us that the Holy Spirit teaches and admonishes and encourages us to hold fast to God’s wisdom and the Truth of the Gospel which leads to life giving fruit that should be poured out to all who are within our circle of influence. 

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 

Galatians 5:22-23

We will do well to cooperate with the Holy Spirit

as He reminds us of  Solomon’s advice counsel. 

Keep they heart with all diligence;
for out of it are the issues of life.

Proverbs 4:23