The Weight and Worth of Words: Text: Proverbs 25:11-15
Introduction: The Architecture of Reality
The book of Proverbs is God's instruction manual for street-level wisdom. This is not pie-in-the-sky philosophy for academics in their ivory towers. This is applied theology for the trenches of everyday life, for the marketplace, the dinner table, and the elder's gate. The wisdom contained here is intensely practical, because the God who authored it is intensely practical. He is the one who built reality, and so He knows how it works.
Our modern world is drowning in words. We are bombarded by an endless torrent of verbiage from our screens, our phones, our politicians, and our advertisers. But for all our talking, we have forgotten the weight and worth of words. We treat them as cheap, disposable things, as tools for self-expression or weapons for self-advancement. We think that because we can say anything, we can say anything. But God's economy is different. In His economy, words have mass. They have value. They create and they destroy. God spoke, and the universe leaped into existence. The Son of God is called the Word. To misunderstand the nature of words is to misunderstand the nature of God and the reality He has made.
The Christian life is a life of discipleship, and a massive part of that discipleship is learning how to govern the tongue. James tells us that the man who can bridle his tongue is a perfect man, able to bridle his whole body. This is because the tongue is the rudder of the ship, the spark in the forest. What comes out of the mouth reveals what is in the heart. Therefore, learning to speak as a Christian is not about learning a new set of religious vocabulary words. It is about having the heart so transformed by the gospel that the words which flow from it are beautiful, valuable, refreshing, true, and powerful.
This cluster of proverbs from the 25th chapter gives us a series of powerful images that contrast godly speech and character with its opposite. We have five snapshots here, five case studies in applied wisdom. We will see the beauty of timely words, the value of wise correction, the refreshment of a faithful messenger, the emptiness of false promises, and the surprising power of gentle persuasion. In all of this, we are being taught to build, not to demolish, with our words and our lives.
The Text
Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a word spoken in right circumstances.
Like an earring of gold and an ornament of fine gold is a wise reprover to a listening ear.
Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest is a faithful envoy to those who send him, for he refreshes the soul of his masters.
Like clouds and wind without rain is a man who boasts of his gifts falsely.
When one is slow to anger, a ruler may be persuaded, and a soft tongue breaks the bone.
(Proverbs 25:11-15 LSB)
The Artistry of Timely Words (v. 11)
We begin with a lesson in aesthetics and timing.
"Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a word spoken in right circumstances." (Proverbs 25:11)
Notice that the proverb does not simply say that a true word is valuable. It says a word spoken "in right circumstances" is valuable. The Hebrew is literally "a word spoken on its wheels." It means a word that is apt, fitting, appropriate to the moment. This is not just about content, but about context. It is about timing, tone, and propriety. A wise person understands that the difference between a blessing and a curse can often be a matter of timing. As another proverb says, "He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it shall be counted a curse to him" (Proverbs 27:14). The content is a blessing, but the timing makes it a curse.
The image here is one of exquisite craftsmanship. Golden apples, perhaps intricately carved fruit, set in a filigree of silver. This is not something slapped together. It is beautiful, intentional, and valuable. It is a work of art. Godly speech is not just about dumping a truckload of truth on someone's lawn. It is about presenting that truth in a way that is fitting and beautiful. It requires wisdom to know not only what to say, but when to say it, and how to say it. Many a man has spoken the truth and done great damage because he spoke it at the wrong time or in the wrong spirit. He had the golden apple, but he threw it through the window instead of presenting it on a silver platter.
This is a skill that must be cultivated. It requires listening more than we speak. It requires understanding the person we are speaking to. It requires humility. The world tells us to "speak your truth" impulsively and without filter. The Bible tells us to speak God's truth skillfully and with artistic care. Our words should be like these apples of gold, not only true in substance but beautiful in their setting.
The Value of Wise Rebuke (v. 12)
From the beauty of a fitting word, we move to the value of a necessary one.
"Like an earring of gold and an ornament of fine gold is a wise reprover to a listening ear." (Proverbs 25:12)
Here again we have the imagery of precious metal, of something valuable and beautiful. But this time it is not a word of encouragement, but a word of reproof. This strikes our modern ears as odd. We live in an age that despises correction. Our therapeutic culture tells us that the highest virtues are affirmation and validation. To rebuke someone is considered an act of violence, a form of hatred. But Scripture teaches the exact opposite. "Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful" (Proverbs 27:6).
Notice the two conditions here. The reproof must come from a "wise reprover," and it must be directed to a "listening ear." A fool rebuking another fool is just noise. But a wise man, speaking a hard truth in love, is offering a priceless gift. The second condition is just as crucial. The value of the gold earring is only realized by the one who is willing to wear it. A listening ear, a humble heart, is what turns a rebuke from an insult into an ornament.
This is a diagnostic question for your own soul. How do you respond to correction? When your sin is pointed out to you, is your first instinct to defend, deflect, and deny? Or do you recognize it as a gift? The wise man loves the one who rebukes him, because the wise man hates his own sin more than he hates being corrected. The scorner hates the one who rebukes him, because the scorner loves his sin and his pride more than he loves the truth. If you want to be wise, you must learn to welcome wise reproof as you would welcome fine gold.
The Refreshment of Faithfulness (v. 13)
Next, the proverb turns from the spoken word to the character of the one who bears it.
"Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest is a faithful envoy to those who send him, for he refreshes the soul of his masters." (Proverbs 25:13)
The image is of a hot, dusty harvest day. The work is hard, the sun is beating down, and everyone is thirsty and weary. Then, a drink cooled with snow brought down from the mountains arrives. It is intensely refreshing, reviving, and welcome. This, Solomon says, is what a faithful messenger is to the one who sent him.
A faithful envoy is one who can be trusted. He carries the message without altering it. He represents the interests of his master without deviating. He completes the mission he was given. In a world full of unreliable people, a faithful man is a source of immense relief and refreshment. The master does not have to worry. He does not have to fret about whether his instructions are being followed or his name is being misrepresented. He can rest, knowing his business is in good hands. This faithfulness refreshes his very soul.
This is a call to radical reliability in a culture of excuses. As Christians, we are all envoys. We are ambassadors for Christ (2 Cor. 5:20). We have been sent into the world with a message, the gospel, and we are to represent our Master, the Lord Jesus. Are we faithful? Do we deliver His message without distorting it to make it more palatable? Do we live in such a way that we faithfully represent His character? When our Master looks at our work, is His soul refreshed? Or does He find us to be unfaithful servants who have buried our talent and misrepresented His name? Faithfulness is not glamorous, but it is deeply refreshing to God and to men.
The Emptiness of the Boaster (v. 14)
From the refreshment of faithfulness, we turn to the disappointment of the braggart.
"Like clouds and wind without rain is a man who boasts of his gifts falsely." (Proverbs 25:14)
Here the imagery shifts from positive to negative. The scene is a parched land, desperate for rain. The sky darkens, the clouds gather, the wind picks up. All the signs are there. Hope rises. And then... nothing. The clouds blow over, and the land is as dry as before. It was all show, all promise, with no substance. This is a picture of profound disappointment.
This is the man who boasts of a gift falsely. This can mean two things. It can mean a man who boasts of a gift he does not possess, a complete fraud. But it can also refer to a man who promises to give a gift and then doesn't deliver. He talks a big game. He makes grand promises. He puffs himself up and draws attention to his supposed generosity or ability. But when it comes time to act, he is nowhere to be found. He is all talk. He is clouds and wind, but no rain.
This is a picture of pride. Pride is fundamentally empty. It promises satisfaction but delivers only disappointment. The man who boasts is trying to build his identity on his own perceived abilities or generosity, but it is a foundation of air. He ultimately lets everyone down, including himself. The humble man, in contrast, doesn't make grand promises about himself. He simply does his duty quietly and faithfully. He may not look like a storm cloud, but when the time comes, he delivers the rain.
The Surprising Power of Gentleness (v. 15)
The final proverb in this section gives us a lesson in spiritual physics.
"When one is slow to anger, a ruler may be persuaded, and a soft tongue breaks the bone." (Proverbs 25:15)
The world believes that power lies in force, intimidation, and volume. If you want to move a hard object, you hit it with a harder object. If you want to persuade a ruler, you threaten him, you protest, you shout him down. But God's kingdom operates on a different principle. Here, we are told that patience, being "slow to anger," is what persuades rulers. A patient, respectful, and persistent appeal can succeed where a temper tantrum will fail utterly.
The second phrase is even more striking: "a soft tongue breaks the bone." This is a paradox. How can something soft break something hard? It is the principle of water wearing away stone. A constant, gentle pressure can overcome the most stubborn resistance. A harsh, angry response only hardens the opposition. It gives them something to push back against. But a soft answer, a gentle word, a patient spirit, these things have a way of disarming hostility and getting past defenses. It is a kind of spiritual jujitsu.
This requires immense self-control, which is a fruit of the Spirit. Our natural impulse when confronted with bone-like hardness in another person is to respond with our own hardness. But the wise man has rule over his own spirit. He refuses to be provoked. He maintains his gentleness, not out of weakness, but out of a deep strength and trust in God's way of doing things. This is the way of Christ, who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return.
The Wisdom of God Incarnate
As with all the wisdom of Proverbs, we must see how it all points to and is fulfilled in the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the ultimate wisdom of God (1 Cor. 1:24). Each of these proverbs is a perfect portrait of Him.
Jesus is the perfect "apple of gold in a setting of silver." Every word He spoke was perfectly timed, perfectly fitting, and exquisitely beautiful. He knew when to speak a word of grace to a broken sinner and when to deliver a blistering rebuke to a proud Pharisee. His every word was spoken "on its wheels."
He is the ultimate "wise reprover." His rebukes were like fine gold, offered to those with ears to hear. He lovingly corrected His disciples, always for their good, always to make them wiser and more holy. And for those who have a listening ear today, His Word still corrects, rebukes, and trains us in righteousness.
He is the ultimate "faithful envoy." Sent by the Father, He was the perfect messenger who did everything the Father commanded Him. He represented the Father perfectly, saying, "Whoever has seen me has seen the Father." And by His faithfulness unto death, He brought the ultimate refreshment to the soul of His Father, who declared, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased."
He is the opposite of the man who boasts falsely. He is the storm cloud that actually brings the rain. He promised to give His life as a ransom for many, and He delivered. He promised to rise on the third day, and He delivered. He promised to send the Holy Spirit, and He delivered. He is the substance, not the shadow.
And finally, He is the one whose "soft tongue breaks the bone." With meekness and gentleness, He confronted the hardness of the Roman empire, the hardness of the Jewish leaders, and the hardness of the human heart. He did not come with legions of angels, but as a suffering servant. And through the apparent weakness of the cross, He broke the back of sin, death, and Satan. His soft answer to the wrath of God on our behalf turned that wrath away. His gentle call to "come to me" has broken the stony hearts of millions. This is our Lord. This is true wisdom. Let us go and do likewise.