When Is the Right Time to Speak? - HOW DOES JEHOVAH FEEL ABOUT WHAT WE SAY?

We can learn much from the Bible book of Job about how and when to speak.  After Job suffered a series of heartbreaking calamities, four men came to comfort him and to offer counsel. Those men spent a lot time being silent. But from the statements made later by three of these men-Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar-it is obvious that they did not spend this time thinking  about how they could help Job. Instead, they were thinking about how they could prove that Job had done something wrong.  They made some accurate statements, but much of what they said about Job and about Jehovah was either unkind or untrue.  They judged Job harshly. (Job 32:1-3) How did Jehovah respond?  His anger burned hot against those three men. He called them foolish and made them ask Job to pray for them.- JOB 42:7-9.

We learn a number of lessons from the bad examples set by Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar. First, we should not judge our brothers.  (Matthew 7:1-5) Instead, we should listen carefully to  them before we speak. Only then will we be able to understand their situation. (1 Peter 3:8)  Second, when we do speak, we must make sue that our words are kind and our statements accurate.  (Ephesians 4:25) And third. Jehovah takes a keen interest in what we say to one another.

The fourth man to visit was Elihu, a relative of Abraham. He listened as Job and the three other men spoke. He obviously paid close attention to what was said because he was able to give some compassionate but direct counsel that helped Job correct his thinking.  (Job 33:1, 6, 17) Elihu's main concern was to exalt Jehovah, not himself or any other man. (Job  32:21, 22, 37:23, 24)  From Elihu's example we learn that there is a time to keep silent and listen.  (James 1:19) We also learn that when we do give counsel, our primary interest should be to honor Jehovah, not to ourselves.

We can show that we value the gift of speech by following the Bible's advice about when and how to speak. Wise King Solomon was inspired to write: "Like apples of gold in silver carvings is a word spoken at the right time." (Proverbs 25:11) When we listen carefully to what others say and we think before we speak, our words can be like those apples of gold-both valuable and beautiful.  Then, whether we say a little or a lot, our speech will build others up, and we will make Jehovah proud of us.  (Proverbs 23:15; Ephesians 4:29) What better way could we express our appreciation for this gift from God!

Next time: Love One Another Intensely

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