One who spares words is knowledgeable; one who is cool in spirit has understanding.

Proverbs 17:27

I’ve met some smart people in my life. One that has always impressed me was a high school classmate named David. He was always ranked near the top of our class, and he was a joy to behold. (I did some online stalking a while back and discovered that after college he went to law school, practiced law for a couple of decades, made partner, and then left law and funded his own way into the mission field. (A brilliant and faithful man.) I can‘t count how many times a teacher would ask him a question, and we students thought by his initial silence that David might be stumped. But then, after resting his chin in the cupped fingers of his hand, the fountains of knowledge would gush forth.

On the other hand, I have often responded so quickly that my minimal knowledge on some subject was exhausted long before my words quit flowing. Maybe there’s still time for me in my life to model some of my friend David’s behavior.

Prayer

Dear God, help me today to know when to speak, and what to speak. Fill me with the knowledge of Jesus, in whose name I pray. Amen.