阅读经文 

在我所工作的校园里，有一个总是面带微笑、说话温柔可亲的学生，他为我们的校园增色不少。《箴言书》十六章24节所说的，好像是以他为典范的呢！几句说得合宜的话比蜜更甘甜，反之，轻率和不合宜的话却能伤害，甚至破坏彼此的关系。

圣灵吩咐我们，要用爱心说诚实话。但并非每一件真实的事都要说出来的，我们准备开口说话时，如果不是出于爱心的话，最好还是保持缄默。说话的方式有正确和错误的区分，说话和沉默也各有它们合宜的时间。

说了不合宜的话，我们很容易便会找借口来解释。我们时常认为：“我只是一个率直的人，”或“这是我的个性，”或说“我不过是把我看见的说出来而已。”

然而，每一个神的儿女都可以期待做得更好。在《以弗所书》四章，保罗给我们一些建议，能帮助我们弃绝谎言、说实话、不说污秽的言语、叫听见的人得益处。当我们与圣灵同行时，我们便被改变了。藉着圣灵的帮助，无论在家中，在工作场所，或在我们的教会，或在世界上，我们都有能力去改变我们说话的方式。

A student who graces the college campus where I work always has a smile on his face and speaks with words that are kind and gentle. Proverbs 16:24 could have been inspired with him in mind! While a few well-chosen words are sweeter than honey, rash and poorly chosen words can damage and even destroy relationships.

The Holy Spirit calls us to speak the truth in love. Not everything that is true needs to be said, and when love is not the motive for what we are prepared to say, we would do well simply to remain silent. There is a right way and a wrong way to say things, and there is a time to speak and a time to be silent.

It is easy for us to make excuses for our poorly chosen words. We often think and say things like "I'm just a blunt person," or, "That's my nature," or, "I just say it the way I see it."

However, there is hope for all of God's children. In Ephesians 4, Paul gives helpful advice about putting off falsehood and speaking truthfully, avoiding unwholesome talk, and building others up. When we walk with the Holy Spirit, we are changed. With the Spirit's help we can change the way we speak in our homes and workplaces, in our churches, and in the world.