Too Much Talk

“Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people: neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbour; I am the Lord” (Lev. 19:16). “A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter” (Prov. 11:13). “The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly” (Prov. 18:8). “He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips” (Prov. 20:19). “Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth” (Prov. 26:20). “The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly” (Prov. 26:22). “He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends” (Prov. 17:9). “An hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbour: but through knowledge shall the just be delivered” (Prov. 11:9). “He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction” (Prov. 13:3). “Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles” (Prov. 21:23). “A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards” (Prov. 29:11). “He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit. Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding” (Prov. 17:27,28). “Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few. For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool’s voice is known by multitude of words” (Eccl. 5:2,3). “In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise” (Prov. 10:19). “A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit” (Prov. 15:4). “Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better. The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself… A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him?” (Eccl. 10:11,12,14).

“And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not” (I Tim. 5:13). “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath” (Jas. 1:9). “And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell” (Jas. 3:6). “But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment” (Mat. 12:35). Now for the verse that shows us the bottom line of the whole matter: “Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof” (Prov. 18:21). The answers we seek are pretty much always found within. There is not one single person on the face of the earth who fulfills the negative end of ANY of the above scriptures on a regular basis, who has any power, or love, or peace with God. And there never has been. Neither will anyone who does not cease from these things have any hope of salvation. Period. The things that are written are irrefutable, both in knowledge and in practice. I don’t write or preach to impress anyone [but God], but rather to address the conditions that either promote or degrade the hope of God’s people; which hope is the salvation of our souls (Gen. 49:18; Lam. 3:26; Acts 15:11; Rom. 8:24,25; Eph. 4:4; I Thess. 5:8). Being a “talker” is one of the more subtle and overlooked dangers to that hope, and that makes it a very great danger indeed. If you don’t believe that, go back over all of these scriptures very slowly and very honestly; and look up the referenced verses as well, and do the same with them. The scripture means what it says when it tells us, “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord” (Heb. 12:14). Talking too much is NOT a trait of holiness. But this is: “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psm. 46:10). Amen