I hope everyone is having a real fine Saturday

I hope everyone is having a real fine Saturday. Today I have a very worthy repeat post from a couple of years ago, which I just recently had occasion to read again. It should be a blessing to anyone who is truly "striving to enter in at the strait gate" (Lk. 13:24). God bless.

The Wisdom Of The Shut Mouth - July 3rd, 2011 Written by Lary R. Hale

It's just an overtly obvious fact: Most people talk too much. And not only so, but there's a lot of hurt to be found in too much talking. James chapter 3 goes into detail about this unfortunate state of man. He says, "It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison;" and he also notes that "If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body" (Jas. 3:2,8). Now that's what we're shooting for, or at least it should be, and with good reason [We'll get to that]. If you're not talking then there's no chance of someone taking something you've said the wrong way. If your mouth is closed then it's certain your not saying something about someone that shouldn't be said. Same goes for complaining; you can't do much of it with your mouth shut. The list can go on and on, but I'm sure you see the point. No wonder the scripture says, "Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding" (Prov. 17:28). If someone is a fool, who would know it if he's not broadcasting it? Want to be right about things almost all the time? Well just don't talk about things that you don't have absolute knowledge of, unless you make it clear that you are just speculating.

Now don't get me wrong, I do understand that there is "a time to keep silence, and a time to speak" (Eccl. 3:7). The problem is that almost everyone is erring heavily on the "time to keep silence" end of that equation. Solomon made this observation about people running their mouth unnecessarily: "Yea also, when he that is a fool walketh by the way, his wisdom faileth him, and he SAITH to every one that he is a fool" (Eccl. 10:3). He also said that "A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards" (Prov. 29:11). In fact the scriptures are replete with these kinds of statements that make it clear that too much talk is simply an unrighteous thing. And considering that Proverbs 18:21 says, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue," I would say this is something of worthy consideration, and not just something for casual observation. I believe also that Jesus was in agreement with this assessment, because he gave us this warning: " But I say unto you, That EVERY IDLE WORD that men shall speak , they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be JUSTIFIED, and by thy words thou shalt be CONDEMNED" (Mat. 12:36,37). I don't know about you my friend, but that inspires a lot of godly fear in my heart. May God help us to conquer that final frontier of bringing the tongue into total subjection to God's holy Spirit and power. Amen.