Walking with the Wise #64: Keeping It Shut

“When words are many, transgression is not lacking,

but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.”

—Proverbs 10:19

Do you talk too much? Do you know how and when to keep your mouth shut? Are you a person who betrays another’s trust? It has been said that words are like sheep: the more there are, the greater chance there is that some of them will go astray. The more we talk, the more likely something we say will hurt others. As Solomon said,  

“Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets, but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered”—Proverbs 11:13.

We must learn to control our tongue because “it is a restless evil, full of deadly poison”—James 3:8. Indeed, James said,  

“If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless”—James 1:26.

Our faith depends upon keeping our tongue. We must make every effort to rid ourselves of any type of “anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk” from our mouths (Colossians 3:8). And we must use our tongues to build others up, not tear them down.

We all know what it’s like to get some juicy information about another person that we aren’t sure is true, but because of the thrill of sharing it with somebody else, we give them all of the succulent tidbits, knowing that something bad is probably going to come of it. Instead of gossiping or using our tongues to slander and hurt the reputations of others, we must use our tongues to declare the good news of Jesus, not the bad news of others' possible faults or failings. If we continue to speak about others, then we are showing ourselves as children of Satan, not God (cf. John 8:44). As Christians, we must throw off falsehood, making sure that we,

“having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another”—Ephesians 4:25. 

And,

“speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into Him who is the head, into Christ”—Ephesians 4:15.

May God be the God of our speech! May gossip be gone from our mouths, and may our tongues be used to praise, not put down. May our speech be such that when others hear us, they are drawn to the suffering Savior, not the scandals of sin. May God be glorified in us, and may His name be continually on our tongues to proclaim His glory both now and forevermore. Amen.