“Wise men lay up knowledge: but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction.” (Prov. 10:14)
April Fools’ Day is usually the one day where people actually take the time to evaluate the things they see or hear, knowing they could be the target of an April Fool’s joke. However, one Tennessee woman didn’t quite get the memo and this prank went south fast.
Susan Hudson decided it would be a great April Fools’ joke to call her sister and say, “Helen, I shot my husband. I’m cleaning up the mess. Let’s go bury him in Blackwater.” Now, if Hudson learned anything in this, it’s that her sister is a snitch because after receiving the call, she called the police! Officers showed up to Hudson’s home and took her into custody until her husband came home and it was clear that he was safe.
In the end, Hudson’s words of wisdom were, “Be careful if you’re planning on pranking gullible relatives!” Also, she was very impressed by her local police department’s quick response!
The Bible warns us that “the mouth of the foolish is near destruction.” How many times have we foolishly said something that nearly destroyed us or our friendship with someone? Here are two ways to avoid being a fool on April Fool’s.
FIRST—THINK Before You SPEAK.
Prov. 29:11 says, “A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards.” As I have said in another devotional, not every thing that comes into your mind should come out of your mouth. Think about the impact your words may have on your hearers.
SECOND—REFLECT Before You REACT.
Prov. 29:20 says, “Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words? there is more hope of a fool than of him.” Usually, when we react out of haste or anger, we will say something foolish and hurtful.
May our prayer, today, be as the Psalmist who said in Psalm141:3, “Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.”