Words Aptly Spoken
By: Deborah Schroeder
June 12, 2026
They are everywhere. They latch on in assorted places. I’m talking about the blatherers, the twaddlers, those who never run out of trivial, feeble, and tedious words. Not sure how they manage this, but they don’t seem to come up for air…ever. They latch on to us in the airport waiting area. They stand behind us in the grocery check-out lane. They work out next to us at the gym. They plunk down beside us in the dentist’s office. They are self-involved champions of verbal dysentery. They assume everyone around them shares their enthusiasm for tired reviews of minutia. The droning goes something like this:
I had to walk the dog thirty minutes earlier this morning because our neighborhood roads are getting repaved today. Since I had to get up earlier to walk the dogs, I had time to go out looking for yard sales. This is laundry day, which means I won’t get started on my first load of wash until later. I usually start with a dark load of clothes. It seems we wear darker clothes more than lighter colors. Have you ever used those laundry sheets you put in your wash load? I can’t believe they’d be as good as liquid detergent. Anyway, after the dark load, I throw in the light colors. And last, I wash the towels. Charlie will have to be satisfied with a simple supper tonight, since I won’t have time to prepare much. I’m thinking baked potatoes with toppings…
The droning continues on. But thankfully, you’re unshackled. Your name has been called for your dental exam.
Why do people drone on with meaningless trivia? In my experience, endless rambling takes no forethought. It is lazy speech. The person’s world view is small. They seldom experience or try new things. So their words revolve around themselves. Does anybody care? Is a question the babblers rarely, but should, ask themselves.
Here’s the good news. Conversation does not have go this way. Words can be filled with hope, encouragement, a fresh paradigm, or a creative idea. We have the opportunity to inject flavor into our words that others can carry with them the rest of the day. Words can change someone’s outlook and direction! With your words, you can shift someone’s entire perspective! The Bible has something to say about the words we use.
Proverbs 25:11 says, “Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a word aptly spoken”. Interesting analogy—words linked to precious metals and fruit. Gold and silver are metals of value. On January 28, 2026, the value of Gold hit a high point, at $5,602.22 USD per troy ounce (https://www.apmex.com). As of this writing, the price of silver is valued at $68.84 USD according to the same source. Apples have incredible health benefits. Eating them whole, especially with the peel on, the Mayo Health Clinic (https://themayoclinichealthsystem.org) reports that eating apples:
• Lowers cholesterol levels and blood pressure
• Promotes healthy gut bacteria
• Causes minimal spikes in blood sugar
• Can help curb overeating
• Reduces cellular inflammation
• Decreases the risk of asthma
• Protects memory and supports overall cognitive function as you age.
According to this Proverb, words aptly spoken add as much value as expensive metals and a heart-healthy apple! With all the needless babbling going in, it’s time to explore the concept of words aptly spoken.
What Words are Considered Aptly Spoken?
I believe words aptly spoken are the right responses that meet another person at her point of need.
For example, have you ever conversed with someone who replied with words that stopped you in your tracks, or lingered in your thoughts for days? You may or may not have wanted to hear those words, but they would not let go of you.
In my book, Girl Time—Conversations on Godly Character (NPH.net), chapter two includes some words that had such an impact on me. I was 16 years old at the time. I had a part-time job at a local bakery. I worked two nights a week with an older woman named Stella. I couldn’t stand her. Stella was not my manager. She was a fellow employee. She delegated the harder jobs to me, while she just sat there supervising and preparing the bank deposit for the following morning. (Truth be told, Stella was not a bad person. I was immature and resented her ability to tell me what to do.) One evening after work, I unloaded my agony on my mom. I concluded my babbling with the proclamation that if Stella wasn’t there, the bakery would be a decent place to work! I’m sure you can tell I was looking for a way out. I wanted my mom’s assurance that I did not have to remain in that job if I was so miserable. Didn’t happen. After she patiently listened to my self-pity, her response was simple. “You know, there will be a ‘Stella’ in your life the rest of your days.” My wise mother did not reply with words I wanted to hear. She passed on words I needed to hear. Words aptly spoken! In time, those few words transformed my thinking. They challenged me. They provided an alternative perspective. They launched me in a new direction. That was 60 years ago! I have carried those words with me ever since. And I included them in my book so others can benefit from them as well!
But the key question remains. How do we know the right words to share as we interact with others? How did my mom know to respond to me in the way she did?
We begin by listening (James 2:19). First, we need to listen to the Lord. Why? Because we do not have the ability to know the exact words a person needs in the moment. But God does. His indwelling Spirit guides us (Luke 12:12; Ephesians 3:19; Proverbs 17:22). The best words to share with others are filled with God’s perspective. We have God’s perspective when we engage regularly in His Word (Psalm 119:105). It is the Word alone that has the power to change lives and provide what is needed.
Second, we need to listen to the other person. By listening, we learn the person’s point of need. Is she carrying false guilt? Does she need encouragement or hope? Is she looking for a way out? Is she lonely? Is she bitter or angry? Does she need forgiveness?
Two examples from Scripture
Two people in Scripture come to mind. They each provided words aptly spoken. The first is Elizabeth as she spoke with the virgin Mary. The second is the prophet Nathan as he spoke with King David.
Elizabeth – Luke 1:15-23
Elizabeth was married to a priest named Zechariah. In their old age, well beyond child-bearing years, Elizabeth conceived and gave birth to a son. Nothing was impossible with God. She was a relative of the virgin Mary, and six months pregnant at the time another impossibility occurred—the Immaculate Conception (Luke 1:36). Arrangements were made for teen-age Mary to stay with Elizabeth for about 3 months during her pregnancy (Luke 1:56). In those days, death by stoning was the penalty for pregnancy outside of marriage. Mary believed God regarding the Immaculate Conception (Luke 1:38). But, others in her village would have assumed the worst: Have you heard the latest? Mary has a bun in the oven, and she’s not married to the father! In His goodness, the Lord protected Mary from town gossip, humiliation, and even death at the news of her pregnancy. In their shared experience, these two women witnessed the God of the impossible (Luke 1:35-37). Elizabeth was equipped to share more than whether seafoam green and tangerine were the right colors for the nursery. She offered words that met Mary at her point of need. She proclaimed, “Blessed are you among women and blessed is the child you will bear!” (Luke 1:42) Elizabeth provided affirmation that Mary was in the center of God’s will, as His amazing plan was about to unfold. Elizabeth had three months to share words aptly spoken with Mary.
Nathan – 2 Samuel 1:12-23
The prophet Nathan begins by telling Kind David a story. People love stories. They provide word pictures to clarify a central message. The prophet Nathan used story-telling to expose King David’s state of denial regarding his own sins. David had committed sins of lust, adultery, deceit, and murder. He had covered up and swept his unconfessed sins under the rug. But God loved David and knew his impenitence would destroy him. He sent Nathan to bring those sins back to the forefront of David’s life, so David could repent. Nathan’s story awakened David’s anger at wrongdoing. Nathan’s words aptly spoken were few, but they cut to the core of David’s being: “Then Nathan said to David, you are the man!” (2 Samuel 12:7). Those few words jolted David out of his denial. By God’s Grace, he finally repented of his sins and was restored to a right relationship with his Lord.
Let’s go back for a moment to the people filled with trivial, feeble, and tedious words. They are still everywhere. You may run into one at your mailbox this week. Pray for the right words to share with her. Give her something of value she can take with her through the day. And who knows! Maybe some of those babblers will come back for more words from you! Words aptly spoken, like apples of gold in settings of silver!
