He that reproves a scorner gathers to himself shame; and he that rebukes a wicked man gets himself a blot. (Proverbs 9:7)

When Charles Spurgeon was still a boy preacher, he was warned about a certain woman in the congregation who had a reputation for being extremely quarrelsome. He was informed that she was intending to give him a good tongue-lashing when she found him.

Spurgeon said, “All right! But that’s a game that two can play.”

Shortly after that, the woman met Spurgeon and began to assault him with a flood of verbal abuse. He simply smiled back at her and said, “Oh, yes. Thank you. I’m quite well, thanks. Thank you for asking. I hope all is well with you too.”

His remarks were followed by another tirade of know-it-all comments, this time with her voice at a higher volume. He again smiled and responded, “Yes, it does look rather like it might rain. I think I better be going now.”

The woman stood for a moment watching as he walked away. She threw her arms in the air and said, “Bless the man. What’s the use of storming at him. He’s deaf as a post!”

Never again did the woman confront Spurgeon, or even attempt to speak to him. And never did he tell her what he had done. Spurgeon’s lesson to us was that some people will argue for no reason, and it is better to walk away than attempt to converse with them.

Creator God, grant us the wisdom to hold our tongue, even when others around us are not holding theirs!