Proverbs 10:19

New Living Translation (NLT)

Too much talk leads to sin.
Be sensible and keep your mouth shut.

For meditation

As soon as the words trailed off from my mouth, I knew I had spoken too quickly. There was no way I was going to be able to fulfill my promise. My heart wanted to help, but my resources didn’t measure up. I was in trouble, and I dreaded the day I would be called to deliver on those words. I became like Peter at the Last Supper. “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death” (Lk. 22:33). But reality revealed that he didn’t think carefully through his rash response to the kind assurance of Jesus concerning a serious spiritual attack Peter knew nothing about. In the early hours of the following morning, his boastful words turned into a regretful denial of the Master he so loved (54-62).

The problem most of us have is, we don’t pause to think about what we hear before responding. We seldom reflect enough to put things into perspective. Our tongues rush to please where there is a need, so we get entangled in a mesh of impossibilities that lead so many to wrong actions. We tell without checking the facts. We rush to defend ourselves and thus embellish the facts. Sometimes, we out rightly lie about them. We attack before hearing the whole story with understanding. Our ego struggle and anger breaks out with revenge. Our emotions carry our tongues in a torrent of words that ensnare us or destroy others.

James has the cure for us. “Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires” (James 1:19-20). The wisdom is to pause and reflect before we speak. In this way, we allow the Holy Spirit to guide our minds with understanding. He will help us speak with grace, seasoned with salt, that we may know how we ought to answer everyone. (Col 4: 6).

1. Can you fulfill your promise without compromising your integrity?
2. Is your report accurate? Have you checked the facts?
3. Are you not being self-defensive and unreasonable with your words?
4. Are your words kind or cruel? Are they necessary?
5. Will they build up or tear your listener down (2 Cor. 13:10)?

I pray we all give careful thought to Solomon’s counsel in these wise words: “Too much talk leads to sin. Be sensible and keep your mouth shut” (Prov. 10:19).

So: May you pray for self-control in every situation; and may the Spirit of God lead you as you yield heart, mind, and tongue to Him in all circumstances.

Shalom