“Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak…” (James 1:19)
Someone said, “Many things in life have been opened by mistake, but nothing more often than the mouth!” The truth is…we just talk too much sometimes. When all is said and done—there’s usually more said than done!
FIRST: James says, “let every man be swift to hear…”
That simply means you should be a ready listener before becoming a ready speaker. God gave us two ears and only one mouth for a reason!
SECONDLY: James says, “be…slow to speak.”
Why? Because sin is not too far behind! Prov. 10:19 says, “In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.” In other words, the more we speak, the more likely we are to say something we shouldn’t say. And Jesus said we are going to give an account of EVERYTHING we say (Matt. 12:36-37). So, given that fact, James says, “be…slow to speak.” Most of the trouble we get into, is because of our mouth.
Someone said: “It would be better to keep your mouth shut and be thought a fool; than to open it and remove all doubt.” It takes as much wisdom to know when NOT to speak, as it does to know WHEN to speak. We need to be like the man about whom it was said he was so wise he could be silent in 7 different languages!
Proverbs 21:23 says, “Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles. “
So, a great lesson for us to learn is this: not everything that pops into our MIND should proceed out of our MOUTH! Today, consciously think before you speak. And when you do speak, think to yourself, “NEED I SAY MORE?