Stop the Talk, Don't Do Anything

Proverbs 17

• Cover an offense (9)
  
• Drop a quarrel (14)
  
• Use words with restraint (27)
  
• Hold your tongue (28)
  

Sometimes the best course of action is no action. To do this requires a great deal of faith in God and the reality of His principles. To restrain from words and actions is to say, "There is nothing you can say or do that will thwart God's plan. Good will prevail." To let someone else have the last word seems, on the surface, to surrender victory. It seems to admit defeat or fault. But in reality, there is a greater plan at work. You may have lost the skermish, but in the end you have won the war. You know how the battle ends, and you know which general comes out on top. You know.

Self control, restraint, holding your tongue, comes out of knowledge and understanding (27), wisdom and discernment (28). You know that God vindicates the righteous. You understand God's justice, grace and mercy. You know that love triumphs (9). You understand that forgiveness brings about reconciliation of relationships. You know that paying back evil for evil doesn't pay off.

Wisdom triumphs, even at the times when it does nothing and says nothing. Get wisdom! Stop the talk! Drop the quarrel! Cover the offense!