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

Proverbs 10:19

As soon as the words trailed out of 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 death” (Lk. 22:33). But reality revealed that he did not think through his rash response to the kind assurance of Jesus concerning a serious spiritual attack Peter could not foresee. 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 long enough to put things into perspective. Our tongues rush to comfort where there is a need, so we get entangled in a mesh of impossibilities that lead so many to wrong actions. We speak without checking the facts. We rush to defend ourselves and thus embellish the facts. Sometimes, we outrightly lie about them. We attack before listening and understanding the whole story. Our ego struggles and anger break out, driven by revenge. Our emotions fuel our tongues with a torrent of words that ensnare us or destroy others. 

James has a 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 down your listener? 

I pray we all remain mindful of Solomon’s wise counsel that: “Too much talk leads to sin. Be sensible and keep your mouth shut” (Prov. 10:19).