Be Slow To Speak

So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath;

                                                                       James 1:19 NKJV

We are all admonished to hear swiftly yet slow to speak. The bible knows the reason for this. The tongue has been described as powerful and an unruly evil not because it is evil on its own, rather an untamed tongue can cause lots of havoc. This is not uncommon in the family setting whereby families and marriages have been wrecked. Loved ones have died because of abusive words from their spouses; children have become disobedient to parents because their parents have rained negative words on them through careless utterances.

A good number of people have been entrapped via their words. It seems natural for people to have the tendency to speak more than listening. However,If you want to keep your home in order,you have to be slow to speak. Most often than not, when marital crises are to be resolved, the major argument is always ‘he said this, she said that’. This means that quite a number of couples are quick to speak.  It is advisable that when one party is not saying something, do not force him or her in order to avoid rancour. Even Jesus had to be slow to speak when He was asked to talk about paying taxes to Caesar. It is good to be slow to speak; it saves us from unforeseen challenges.

There are times when there would be orchestrated attempts to force words out of our mouths. At such times we need to exercise caution. It is not compulsory or necessary to have an answer for all questions, at least not immediately. When you are asked to contribute to a matter and you have nothing to say then keep quiet. That is wisdom. Even a fool will be respected when he is careful with words.

Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is considered prudent.

                                                                Proverbs 17:28 NASB

Quite a number of people have lost their lives because they did not set a watch over their mouths. It takes consciousness and sincere prayers to God to be able to tame ones tongue. I pray that the LORD shall help us to guard our mouths from being entrapped by the enemies in Jesus’ name. Amen. SHALOM.

Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.

                                                                        Psalms 141:3 KJV