A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver. Proverbs 25:11
A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver. Proverbs 25:11
Two nearby festivals collide in early October each year, creating a difficult choice—which one to attend? For the first time, I was blessed to visit both in the same weekend!
The Apple Festival in Erwin, Tennessee, hosts a harvest of varieties from local apple farms. Fruit stands are accompanied by hundreds of booths with artisan goods, live music, and food trucks. The mouth-watering fragrance of apple fried pies saturates the air with cinnamon and sugar. We took my 95-year-old mom on the blocks-long tour and picked up apples, pies, fudge, and honey along the way. We had our priorities straight!
On the other side of the mountains is the National Storytelling Festival in Jonesborough, a weekend to drink in lavish tales by storytellers from across the United States and the world. The speakers captivated us with their dramatic, sometimes humorous commentary—using historic research, memories of the past, and no notes.
Proverbs 25:11 (above) seems to combine our two festivals in an interesting way. Wise, prudent words are like apples wrought in gold and set in silver. And when I consider the size of the apples we just bought, such golden words would be extraordinarily valuable and inspiring to hearers…the goal of any good storyteller.
So how does this proverb relate to us?
Its accompanying verses preach the value of words spoken with discretion, faithfulness, truth, patience, gentleness, sympathy, lovingkindness, encouragement, dependability, selflessness, and self-control. Wow. That’s a lot of wisdom in one chapter. How much better my life would be if I more closely followed Jesus’ example in my speech!
If you and I faithfully remembered that apples are appealing, colorful, delicious, and healthy, we’d never stop at another fast-food restaurant—instead, we’d carry apples with us everywhere we go. The same applies to our words. When we think of God listening to the words we speak, we’ll be a lot more deliberate in screening what we say before we speak. We’ll carry His truth and kindness in our hearts, too.
Friend, as you observe the colorful, abundant apples this week in your local farmers’ markets or grocery stores, remember your words can be a fragrant message of Christ’s love. Pour out His encouragement and blessing to others, reminding them of His gentleness and peace.
Let’s be His messengers of hope to a world hungering for joy…as we use words fitly spoken.
Gracious God, thank You for beautiful fruits like apples that You have given us to enjoy. Fill us with the fruits of Your Holy Spirit, too, that we may be more fruitful for you. Make us prudent, wise, discreet, and selfless in every conversation…remind us that You are listening, too. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Nancy C. Williams is a Christian wife/mom with a writing career spanning more than 40 years in business and journalism. Williams is the author of the novel To Love a Falcon and the devotional book A Crocus in the Desert: Devotions, Stories, and Prayers for Women Experiencing Infertility. Her blogs are featured on Crossmap.com and AriseDaily. To follow Nancy’s posts and news, go to her home page at NancyCWilliams.com and subscribe at the bottom.
© Copyright 2026 Nancy C. Williams (text and photography). Unless otherwise noted, Scripture verses are taken from the New King James Version®, Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved. #JesusChrist #faithjourney #Christianliving #faithoverfear #flood #walkwithGod #faith #kingdomlife #Christianencouragement #Biblestudy #dailydevotional #Godisgood #Redeemer #Savior #prayerwarrior #Christianity #Jesus #God #Christian #Bible #trust #love #church #Christ #prayer #Bibleverse #presenceofGod #HolySpirit #apples #harvest #markets #applefestival #storytelling #friedpies
