"A Word Fitly Spoken"

 •  2 min. read  •  grade level: 6
A worldly socialite, having spent the evening at a card party, returned home to find her maid absorbed in a book.
Looking over her shoulder and observing the title she exclaimed: "Poor melancholy soul! What pleasure can you find in pouring so long over that book?"
Without waiting for an answer, she retired to her bed; but not to sleep. In the providence of God, sleep forsook her. And what was it, in this particular night which so suddenly disturbed her spirit and drove sleep away? Was it the gaiety and excitement of the evening, or the weariness which followed?
No, it was none of these. It was a word.
At times, how much hangs upon a single word; what vital, unalterable issues! The Bible says: "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver." Prov. 25:1111A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver. (Proverbs 25:11).
And so it was; a word, a sharp arrow from God's quiver, had pierced the heart of that pleasure-loving lady. Its first effect was to give her deep anguish of spirit. She found no rest. All night she lay under the hand of God, sighing and weeping from the smart of that one word.
Again and again her maid begged to know the cause of her distress.
At last, the lady could restrain herself no longer. Bursting into a fresh flood of tears she exclaimed: "Oh, it is one word which I read in your book which troubles me. I saw there the word 'ETERNITY'. Oh, how happy I should be if I were prepared for ETERNITY!"
Face to face with that one word, with all that it conveys, with all its tremendous significance, what could the frivolities of this passing world do for the guilty soul of this poor lady? She could but loathe them from the bottom of her heart.
But God had mercy upon her soul as He ever has upon such as truly turn to Him. Her heart rested by faith upon the precious blood of Christ which alone can cleanse from sin, and give a troubled conscience peace.
"For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones." Isa. 57:1515For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. (Isaiah 57:15).