Proverbs 16: 23 – A wise man’s heart guides his mouth, and his lips promote instruction.

It seems as though more and more people go through life these days guided by insecurity, pride, arrogance, and ignorance than they do being guided by wisdom and compassion.

This verse from Proverbs shows that one’s heart, or one’s inner thoughts and character, is what guides the words that come from his or her mouth. In addition, his or her lips promote instruction, or learning.  It’s no secret that words are either destructive or constructive. They either tear down or build up.

One thing I find all too common online (yes, we have the Internet here at the Court) is the pervasiveness of “trolling” or highly incendiary comments left on forums, message boards, and personal pages on networking websites, like Myspace. It seems as though these fine, upstanding citizens have nothing better to do.

Such people remind me of verses, James 3: 5-6:

Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body.

So learning to tame your tongue (and keyboard) is just one of several keys to finding true wisdom and reaping its benefits.