When to Keep Your Mouth Shut

Often times in my life, I have failed to abide by this title. I wanted to speak when I should have just been quiet. That's the nice way of putting it, but the scriptures direct us to when we should just keep our mouths shut. Wisdom comes from listening rather than speaking.

For your consideration, I am sharing the following scriptures. Take some time and look at each one. It is a bible study in itself.

Don't open your mouth:

1. In the heat of anger (Proverbs 14:17)

2. When you don't have all the facts (Proverbs 18:13)

3. When you haven't verified the story (Deuteronomy 17:6)

4. If your words will offend a weaker brother (1 Corinthians 8:11)

5. If your words will be a poor reflection on the Lord or your family or your friend (1 Peter 2:21:23)

6. When you are tempted to a make light of Holy things (Eccelesiastes 5:2)

7. When you are tempted to joke about sin. (Proverbs 14:9)

8. If you would be ashamed of your words later (Proverbs 8:8)

9. If you words would convey a wrong impression (Proverbs 17:27)

The book of Proverbs is a very powerful book in the Bible and the proverbs are good for teaching and learning, especially your own children. Perhaps you are teacher or a Sunday school teacher, the above can be a useful source of training for your class.

Stay tuned, I will share No. 11-20 later because there are more instances when you should keep your mouth shut.

Let's just look at a couple of these and then on your own time, look at the others with a bible commentary. If you are not a church goer or you don't attend Sunday School, or go to bible study, you might be interested in going to a Christian book store and get a bible commentary and dictionary to help you understand the Word of God better.

Proverbs 14:17 says, "a quick tempered man acts foolishly, but a good man will be satisfied from above." Both the quick tempered and those of wicked intent are fools; wise persons shun them so that they are not involved in their folly.

I tell you that a fool is not just a nuisance; he is a hazard to the soul. Folly is not just an unpleasantness; it is a jeopardy to life itself. Only the fool courts disaster by playing with folly.

Stay away from quick tempered people who act foolishly and do things without stopping to consider the consequences. He slams doors, throws whatever is handy, yells, curses, and insults, breaks furniture, and walks out in a rage. But if we had to choose, we could tolerate him more easily than the man of wicked intentions. Everyone hates this man for his cold-blooded treachery.

Proverbs 17:27 states "He who has knowledge spares his words, and a man of understanding is of a calm spirit." Here is example of when restraint in speech is a mark of wisdom. This cuts against the expectations we have. We usually look for the wise person to speak, not for him or her to listen. He who has knowledge spares his words, and a man of understanding is of calm spirit. Rash speech and quick temper betray a shallow character.

The book of Provers provides universal principles for living. Written mostly by King Solomon, with portions written by Agur and King Lemuel.

Wisdom is universal, not national. In all your understanding, get wisdom! May God continue to bless and keep you.

Thought for Today: The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.