3.255 Good Communication List
Show Notes
Allen Roberds reflects on Proverbs 15:1, emphasizing the profound power of a soft answer to turn away wrath, contrasting it with how grievous words only stir up anger. This episode offers practical, spiritual insights into mastering communication by choosing thoughtful, humble responses in daily interactions, encouraging listeners to apply biblical wisdom for conflict resolution.
Key Points
- Proverbs 15:1 teaches that a soft answer is effective in de-escalating conflict and turning away wrath.
- The episode highlights how shouting and aggressive communication are generally ineffective in changing minds or fostering genuine understanding.
- Elder Zwick of the Seventy defines a 'soft answer' as a reasoned response with disciplined words from a humble heart, which can be firm in information while remaining soft in spirit.
- Listeners are encouraged to master communication by choosing words that promote understanding rather than perpetuate conflict.
- The reflection contrasts the peaceful outcomes of humble, open-minded discussion with the divisive nature of anger-stirring words.
when it comes to the ability for you to turn away wrath versus stir up anger, it seems to be those that can sit down at the table and have an open mind.
Episode Resources
Full Transcript
In Matthew 5, Jesus calls us the salt of the earth and the light of the world, reminding us that our lives are meant to preserve, illuminate, and point others to Him. This season on Savory Salt, we'll walk through the Old Testament, one verse and one thought each day. Perhaps these moments will add greater savor and brighter light to our lives as we seek to truly live as Savory Salt.
Hello, my friends. It's a new day with new opportunities. Choose ye this day whom you will serve.
Question for you: When's the last time you won an argument by shouting louder than the person you were arguing with? Now I ask that question to myself as much as I ask it to you. We are going to take a look inside of Proverbs 15 today.
And inside of it, I've got a section that I've highlighted for myself: verses 1 through 7 inside of there. And I put a note inside of here to better master my communication by using the tips and tools inside of Proverbs 15:1-7. The today, however, is going to focus on verse 1.
It is one that is a little bit more, well, on the Proverbs side of things. And it says this: "A soft answer turneth away wrath, but grievous words stir up anger." You know, we live in an environment today, in a world today, where it seems like screaming, yelling, bashing, vocal exclamations, whatever terminology you want to use, seems to be the only way certain groups of people want to communicate. All right.
And yet, interestingly enough, I can say that I've, in all of the time I've seen yelling protests and sign protests and join this side and that side yelling over at this one, I can honestly say I've never seen someone on one side or the other side of the chasm stop and say, "Gosh, you know what? They're right. I think I'm going to go join the other side." Now, before you take this out of context here, I want to include the note inside of Come Follow Me for this one.
We have a message here inside of Come Follow Me from Elder Zwick of the Seventy. And he says this—I love this—for what a soft answer is. He says: "A soft answer consists of a reasoned response, disciplined words from a humble heart.
It does not mean we never speak directly or that we compromise doctrinal truth. Words that may be firm in information can be soft in spirit." I'm not speaking out against signs and protests. I'm simply saying, when it comes to the ability for you to turn away wrath versus stir up anger, it seems to be those that can sit down at the table and have an open mind.
Thank you for watching. We will be here tomorrow, and we hope you are too.
This transcript was generated using AI and may contain errors. I do my best to review and edit them when I can.