A servant of God called on a businessman, having felt led to speak to him about Christ. A conversation something like this ensued:
What can I do for you?
I would like to speak with you, if I might, about your soul and its eternal interests.
Oh, I am very sorry, but I am just far too busy.
He was so insistent that the Christian man put out his hand to say good-bye and, drawing closer to the astonished listener, said quietly, Suppose I had been Death? This solemn reminder of the brevity of life and the necessity of being prepared for a visitor that would not be put off, however unwelcome his appearance, brought that man to the Saviour. A word fitly spoken indeed!
Solomon speaks here of a beautiful work of Oriental art, one of painstaking skill and labour. It is precious; it is rare. Alas, so is the word fitly spoken. How many a thoughtless word is spoken! Carefully weigh your words. Strive to find out acceptable words. How essential is that wisdom that comes from above, if we are to speak the right word to the right person.
How many a good word is lost by being spoken out of season! Our Lord is one who ever knows how to speak a word in season to him that is weary. How often He has spoken such a word to our hearts! The soulwinner needs a holy tact. The word tact comes from the Latin tangere, to touch. The word fitly spoken will always touch the heart. How precious is such a word! It will be as a nail in a sure place. As Job said, How forcible are right words! (Job 6:25).
