Before we speak

The proverbs are loaded with sayings about our speech. 

I had a friend who once admitted avoiding Proverbs because he knew God would convict him for the things he let come out of his mouth. 

(It didn’t matter, God threw an obscure passage at him to deal with his tongue, anyway.)

And here we see repeated warning to think before we speak.  Not only that, to listen before we speak.

Solomon says in verse 2,

A fool finds no pleasure in understanding, but delights in airing his own opinions. (Proverbs 18:2)

In other words, there are people that just like to hear themselves talk, and have no interest in learning from others.  But if they took the time to listen, they would gain greatly in understanding.

He then says,

The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters, but a fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.  (4)

And,

A fool’s lips bring him strife, and his mouth invites a beating. 

A fool’s mouth is his undoing, and his lips are a snare to his soul.  (6-7)

And again,

He who answers before listening, — that is his folly and shame.  (13)

In other words, when we don’t think before we speak, we can get into deep trouble with our spouses, with our boss, with our friends, and all those around us. 

And as Solomon noted,

An offended brother is more unyielding than a fortified city, and disputes are like the barred city of a citadel.  (19)

How often have you offended someone you loved because you didn’t take the time to think before you spoke? 

It’s very easy to let words slip out.  But it’s impossible to take them back once they’ve escaped.

Solomon notes,

From the fruit of his mouth, a man’s stomach is filled; with the harvest from his lips he is satisfied. 

The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.  (20-21)

In short, we will eat from the fruit of the things that we say, whether for good or for bad. 

The things we say will affect our relationships at home, at work, and wherever we go.  People will either love us for the things that come from our mouths, or hate us.

More than that, our words have the power to give life to a person or to destroy them.

So let us be careful to guard our lips with our spouse, with our children, with the people at work, and the people at church. 

And may our lips be like Jesus’, whose words gave life to anyone who heard.