Calm and quiet spirit

Something that is lacking in the chaotic world in which we live is a calm, quiet approach to life. From the veritable flood of emotion of those recently “venting their feelings” in the town hall meetings regarding Healthcare Reform to the loudly abnoxious pop culture that seems to be pressing their agenda of loud and proud, as well as “we’re here and we’re queer”…but that is a matter for another day, we see a way of life that is contrary the principles of living that are clearly laid out in the Bible – God’s blueprint for mankind.

Proverbs 17:27 states, “He who has knowledge spares his words, and a man of understanding is of a calm spirit.” Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary states concerning verse 27, “Prudence of speech is commended as is an excellent or calm spirit, not excited to vain conversation.” And boy, do we hear the vain conversation pouring forth these days. According to Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary, the word vain means:

1 : having no real value : idle, worthless
2 : marked by futility or ineffectualness : unsuccessful, useless
3 archaic : foolish, silly
4 : having or showing undue or excessive pride in one’s appearance or achievements : conceited

No real value…useless…showing undue or excessive pride in one’s appearance or achievements. Isn’t this a solid description of the state of the news media, Hollywood society and society at large, as well as pop “culture”. Where is the excellent or calm spirit spoken of in Proverbs? Where is the prudence of speech? Prudence sounds like an old word to me. To put it plainly it means the ability to govern and discipline oneself by the use of reason.

Three very important questions that we can and should ask ourselves before we let words pass beyond the boundary of our lips are as follows:

1) Are they the right words?
2) Is this the right time to say them?
3) Am I the right person to say them?

Instead of being careless, vain, and thinking that we always have the right answer, this attitude being in stark contrast to “lean[ing] not on [our] own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5), we should rather take pause and cautiously move forward with our words. Why is this so important? Jesus said:

36But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.
37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” (Matt 12:36-37)

Recognizing this societal scourge, this provocation to emotional rambling, this useless rhetoric to vaunt oneself – we should take inventory of the words we speak. We should examine what comes out from us. Jesus also said, “[It's] not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man” (Matt 15:11).

So, the seeking of a calm and quiet spirit is before us – a necessary element as we continue to seek God’s Kingdom and His righteousness. Without question, after the strength and power that can only come through God’s Spirit, self-discipline or prudence is a critical ingredient to gaining and maintaining this right attitude. It is not an easy road though…this overcoming the power of the tongue. The Apostle James spoke about the power of the tongue. He said:

6 Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles!
6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell.
7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind.
8 But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
9 With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God.
10 Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.
11 Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening?
12 Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh.
13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. (James 3:5-13)

Let us do our works in the meekness of wisdom, not in the vain, brash, self-vaunting, excessively prideful manner that is so prevalent in the world today.