Jump Start # 1870

Proverbs 10:19 “When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise.”

The thoughts found in our verse today are sprinkled throughout the Bible. In Ecclesiastes we find, “there is a time to speak and a time to be silent.” In James, it is, “let a man be quick to hear and slow to speak.” We are a talking society. Have you noticed every where people are on their phones. They drive talking on phones. They walk into stores talking on phones. They are talking on phones while their kids are on the field playing sports. It’s so bad that movie theatres and churches post messages about turning your phones off. As soon as an airplane lands, the phones are on and people are talking on them.

I wonder what all we are talking about? I also wonder how the past generation managed without cell phones? We are talking to someone all the time.

There are some things that we need to notice:

First, as our verse warns, the more we talk, the more we invite trouble. Transgression, which is sin, is unavoidable. You’ll fall into it. It will happen. Why is this? The more we talk, the more we say things that we shouldn’t. We even say that in a conversation. “I probably shouldn’t say this, but…” But we say it, don’t we? We get closer and closer to gossiping when we talk too much. We get talking negative about people, even our family and brethren, when we talk too much.

Second, some things just do not need to be said. You may see things, but you do not have to tell others. Some things changes people’s image of others. Some things are just not nice. Some things are no one’s business. Some things are private. You do not have to give a full report to everyone who is curious about what you are doing. Not all questions should be answered.

Third, in all this talking to others, maybe we ought to be talking more to God. God already knows. God sees the heart. Often the people we talk to can only agree with our situation but they can’t do much about it. God can. Talking more to God brings us closer to Him. It will help us to think more spiritually and to walk in His ways. Talking to God invites God into our lives.

Fourth, keeping your mouth closed, restraining your lips, as the verse reads, is wise. It shows thought and consideration. We love to talk about ourselves. We like to brag. We like to tell others how great our kids are. Let your walk and let your deeds speak for you. Don’t toot your own horn. No one likes that sound. By seeing your good works, they glorify God is what Jesus taught. You don’t have to tell others what you did. Just do things and folks will see it. And if they don’t, God does.

Have you noticed how hard it is for people to sit in silence. We always have noise around us. We wake up to a clock radio and that just begins the day. We have the TV on as we get ready for work. In the drive to work, the radio is on. At work, there is a lot of talking going on. We return home, with the radio on in the car. We spend the evening with the TV on. Finally, we collapse into bed, sometimes falling asleep with the TV on. Can you imagine just sitting on your back porch with someone in silence. Very uncomfortable for some. They’d at least have to have the phones with them to check for text messages and email. Sitting in silence and just thinking. Sitting in silence and just relaxing. Sitting in silence and just enjoying the creation God has made. Sitting in silence—this is where meditation begins. This is where deep thoughts are formed. The Psalmist declared, “Be still and know that I am God.” Listen. Be quiet. Have you heard the song bird in the morning? Have you heard the wind blowing through the leaves of a tree? Have you heard?

Fifth, with everyone talking, who is listening? That’s a thought for all of God’s people. We are quick to tell our teens what they need to be doing, but have we listened to them? What’s going on in their world? Have we listened to the concerns of the shepherds of the church? Do we hear what they are saying? In Acts 6 a compliant arose about some being neglected. That problem was taken to the apostles. They heard. They came up with a plan. They listened.

Part of the drive to form this country was that the colonies were being taxed and they had no representation in England. No one heard them. No one listened. No one cared. There are some who feel that way about their family. No one listens. No one cares. Some feel this way about the church. No one listens. No one cares.

Every person has their own story. It’s their life. Listening to others tell their story, not only brings you closer to them, but it shows that you truly care. Former astronaut Michael Collins once said that the average person speaks about 30,000 words a day. The problem, he claimed, was when he got home from work, he had already spoken his 30,000 words and his wife was just starting.

Listen more and speak less. That’s hard for many of us. It will keep us out of a lot of trouble if we did. Don’t always speak your mind. Don’t always have the last word. Don’t always have to trump what the other guy says. You’ll learn more by listening than speaking. You’ll get closer by listening than speaking.

Make your words count. Think before you speak. Be careful what you say. Many souls have been slain by mean and hurtful things that we thoughtlessly spoke. The ole, “Sticks and stones may hurt you, but words never will,” is not true. A parent who tells their child that they are dumb, can ruin that child. A wife who protests to her husband, “You can’t do anything right,” may have just put a stake in his heart. “I don’t like you…” “I don’t love you…” Those words not only do hurt, they destroy.

Restraining your lips—that ‘s the path we need to travel.

Roger