By J.R. Miller
"Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him who has it: but the instruction of fools is folly. The heart of the wise teaches his mouth, and adds learning to his lips." Proverbs 16:22-33
Our heart makes us. When we do anything wrong--it is our heart's fault. When a boy doubles up his fist and strikes another boy--it is not the fault of his hand---it is the heart which is to blame. When a girl does gentle, kindly, thoughtful, unselfish things--it is because she has a gentle heart. If our heart is not good, we must try to have it made good. We cannot have the heart made good without wisdom. "Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him who has it" Jesus says that if we believe on Him, He will give us life which shall become a well of water springing up in us. The best way, therefore, to get this wellspring of life in our heart--is to receive Christ.
If we have true wisdom, our words will show it, for "the heart of the wise instructs his mouth." Some people talk a great deal and say nothing worth while--nothing that any one cares to remember or would be any better for remembering. Jesus said something very serious about idle words. Idle words are words which are of no use, which have no sense, no wisdom in them, which make no one any happier or better. They are like chaff. He said that for every idle word, we must give account to God. We ought to try to use our speech so as to do good with it. Paul said that our words were to be such as would minister grace to those who hear them.
Such gracious words are as a honeycomb. Honey is sweet. So are pleasant words to him who listens to them. Pleasant words are good words. Some people are always saying discouraging things. Whenever you meet them, you must listen to discontents and complainings. These are not pleasant words. Some people are fond of repeating idle gossip, saying unpleasant things about others. You never hear them speak a generous word of anyone. They say only critical, unkind things of neighbors and friends. These are not the words that are like a honeycomb. What the wise man means are gentle words, kind words, words of truth. We all need love. Whatever is hard or cruel or unjust or fretful or sharp hurts our hearts. We need tenderness. When one speaks gently, his words are pleasant. Words which give true comfort are pleasant to those who are sorrowing. Words which impart instruction or give cheer are pleasant words to all noble spirits.
But we must not listen to all the words we hear, just because they sound pleasant. Not all words are words of wisdom, and not all apparently honeyed words are words of help. Sometimes such words are spoken to turn us into a path that looks pleasant--but alas! its end is anything but pleasant, for we must always remember that "there is a way which seems right unto a man--but the ends thereof are the ways of death." Things are not always what they seem. There are flowers which look very beautiful--but which have poison in them. Unaware of the danger one gathers his hands full of these flowers, and by-and-by finds himself poisoned. Just so, there are things in life which seem to be beautiful--but which bring only hurt and suffering to him who touches them.
There are kinds of amusement which seem to certain young people to be pleasant--but which start evil thoughts. There are friendships which at first, with their sparkle and attractiveness, seem to be beautiful and good--but which, if accepted, bring evil. A great many wrecks in life come through wrong companionships. Young people should be exceedingly careful whom they accept as their friends. No one but the good can do us good. Some boys and young men think they can take a glass of strong drink now and then without any danger. They think they will never become drunkards. They only laugh at you if you warn them of the danger. But the end of this way is death.
