![[Photo of a Scripture verse]](https://www.deankwilson.com/Blog_images/Proverbs_31_8.jpg)
| “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.” |
| —Proverbs 31:8 |
In life, there is a time to be silent and a time to speak. Sometimes, it’s hard to know which is which. I know that I especially have a great deal of difficulty remaining silent when I hear someone state something that I know is not accurate or true.
Recently, I read a public statement from a security official regarding the automatic fire sprinkler protection in the buildings that he oversaw. He stated that whenever a sprinkler actuated in a fire, it would discharge more than 80 gallons of water per minute. I was startled.
As a fire protection engineer, I have designed many automatic sprinkler systems, and reviewed the plans for many hundreds more. I know that the mathematical formula for the discharge from a sprinkler head specifies that the flow of water from a sprinkler head measured in gallons per minute is equal to the discharge coefficient of the sprinkler head (nominally 5.6) multiplied by the square root of the pressure. Even if the pressure at a sprinkler head was as high as 100 psi—a most unlikely situation in the vast majority of buildings—the maximum flow of water from a single sprinkler head would equal 56 gallons per minute.
Since the vast majority of the public water systems have far less pressure available, including the water system serving these particular buildings, I knew that the security official’s statement was gravely in error. And, I just couldn’t keep this information to myself. So, I told someone in the management of the complex about this error.
Should I have done that? Probably not. What difference did it really make? Most people wouldn’t have known or cared. I most likely should have kept that information to myself.
On the other hand, there are definitely times when we should speak up with no hesitation. King Solomon addresses one of those situations, as recorded in Proverbs 31:8:
Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.
When we see someone being abused, mistreated, or greatly in need, we must speak up. All the more so we must do this because we belong to the Lord Jesus Christ. We cannot turn a blind eye to the needs of the people around us.
Is someone hurting? Then we must speak up for them and offer comfort. Is someone hungry? We must speak up for them and offer them food. Is someone in fear? We must speak up for them and offer protection. Whatever needs we observe, we must speak up and act as instruments of God’s mercy, grace, and love.
As Christ’s ambassadors, let’s keep an eye out this new day for people who need help. Then, let’s lovingly and joyfully speak up for them and offer aid to them in the name of Jesus. After all, God knew we needed salvation from our sins and willingly sent His one and only Son to die in our place. Speaking up and helping others in need is the very least that we can do to honor this magnificent God who loves us so very much.
