Wise interaction with others involves love and knowledge; spirit and truth. “Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act. (27).” I am not to do good to everyone; only those who deserve it. The wisdom in this is the ability to know who deserves it. Giving money to someone who will use it to buy destructive items like liquor or drugs is not wise. They do not deserve good. Wise interaction means I am not an enabler of someone’s destructive habits.
Wise, loving, and knowledgeable interaction do not find excuses to put off sacrificial love till later when it is convenient for me. If someone calls for help and advice when I am tired and about to go to bed it would be unloving to say, “Call me back later and I’ll help you” (28).
Love and wisdom are character traits of God. The Lord God does not plot harm. Therefore, I should not plot harm against my neighbor for any reason (29). This does not mean that God does not discipline his people (11,12). Discipline may seem like harm. It is not for in the end discipline turns us into adults who with the Spirit overcome sinful impulses.
Love should control the tongue (30). Unfortunately, the tongue is usually only connected to the heart bypassing the brain. The place where it connects to the heart is especially close to the areas of malice and revenge, not the areas of love and compassion. The tongue was originally designed to connect to both the mind and the heart’s love vein. It is disconnected when a relationship with God is lost for God is love. So a reminder is needed, “Do not accuse another for no reason– when they have done me no harm.”
My mother use to tell my bitter tongue, “If you do not have anything nice to say, do not say anything at all.” A better piece of advice is, “If I do not have anything nice to say, then I need to think about what is nice about another and say that. If I cannot think of anything nice then I need to pray for the eyes of God.”
