Part II - When to Keep Your Mouth Shut

As promised, I wanted to share some more scriptures about when we should keep our mouth shut. We don't realize how words can hurt, but the Bible instructs in those areas. We should take heed to the Word of God which is instructive and for our good. We should keep our mouth shut:

11. When you are tempted to tell an outright lie (Proverbs 4:24)
12. If your words will damage someone's reputation (Proverbs 16:27)
13. If your words will destroy a friendship (Proverbs 16:28)
14. When you are feeling critical (James 3:9)
15. If you can't speak without yelling (Proverbs 25:28)
16. When it is time to listen (Proverbs 13:1)
17. If you may have to eat your words later (Proverbs 18:21)
18. If you've already said it more than one time (Proverbs 19:13)
19. If you are tempted to flatter wicked person (Proverbs 19:13)

Our focus in this life should always be on Christ and what would He do. We are often guided by our own motives and sometimes those motives are for bad and not for good. Let's look at a couple of these scriptures.

Proverbs 16:27 (No. 12) says: "A scoundrel plots evil, and his speech is like a scorching fire." When we intentionally speak words that will damage a person's reputation, we are a scoundrel. A scoundrel is a mean, immoral evil person that plots evil. Every word he (she) speaks is meant to cause serious infliction on the person of whom he (she) is speaking. A scoundrel is an immoral person and his speech is inflammatory and destructive. (James 3:6)

We should always speak words that are encouraging and kind. The bible says, "pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the sould and healing to the bones." (Proverbs 16:24)

Proverbs 16:28 states that "a perverse man stirs up dissension, and a gossip separates close friends. Often times we repeat things we hear and spread them like a wild fire, but again words should encourage and be kind. When we spread lies about a person, not only does it damage their reputation, but often it destroys friendship. Gossip is contagious and is like a disease. The bible says that a friend is closer than a brother. A good friend is hard to find, so guard your tongue when you start spreading gossip. Ask yourself what is the purpose of your words; who will they hurt, and how do you benefit from them.

It is just as easy to say something nice as it is to say something ugly about a person. Words can cause life or death. Chose life. Proverbs are good for attaining wisdom and discipline; for understanding words of insight; doing what is right and just and fair. (Proverbs 1:2)

Thought for Today: Jesus is our standard and God's word imparts wisdom.