Qualities Needing Judgement

(Pro 10:20 KJV) The tongue of the just is as choice silver: the heart of the wicked is little worth.

Is this a principle or a law?  Is it a hope or an expectation?  Is it a measure or a goal?  It seems that we should be able to tell who the “just” (righteous NASB) {6662} are by the way they talk.  There are certain things we can look for.

We can expect the right content.  Honesty, an adherence to truth is required for righteousness.  While it would be possible to exaggerate for effect as a literary device the distortions that are common in our culture would not be acceptable. 

We can expect the right attitude.  We should have courtesy and kindness.  How we say things is often as important as what we say. 

What about vocabulary?  I tend to be very up-tight in my vocabulary but as I get older I am realizing that everyone was not raised with my restraints.  I have to accept that it is possible to use some four letter words and still be part of the family of God.

None of this means that the answers will always be what we want.  That is not the measure of righteousness. 

So.  The first application is to ourselves.  The second is to people who claim to speak God’s truth.  After that if could become a form of the kind of judgement that is condemned.