Those who guard their mouths preserve themselves; those who open wide their lips bring ruin. Proverbs 13:3 NABRE
We can get a plethora of advice about keeping our tongue. We can find this advice throughout the book called the bible. Some examples, “Know this, my dear brothers: everyone should be quick to hear, slow to speak,” (James 1:19) “Speak boastfully no longer, Do not let arrogance issue from your mouths.” (1 Samuel 2:3) It is possible for us to find so many more words on holding our tongue or speaking wisely. Even when we were kids we had rhyme, “Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me.” And it was a rhyme that was absolutely not true, words hurt more. We would always heal from a stick or a stone, but the hurtful things said in a heated moment somehow stay with us for a very long time. It is words that can bring a devastating blow when said to hurt. We can even say something innocently that can be hurtful. Words do hurt. So it makes since to guard what we say, think about what we are going to say deeply so that we avoid the trap of sticking our foot in our mouth.
Unfortunately we like to talk. If we have done a good deed, or are proud of an accomplishment we can’t wait to tell someone, to brag. If we know something new we are ready to share it with anyone we meet. If we understand something that others do not we, are quick to try and explain. For whatever reason we are too quick to use our mouth to prove ourselves wise or mature or heroic. Don’t do it! There is never anyone forcing us to speak and yet it is our speaking that is most hurtful when someone is hurt. Take the advice of this proverb, guard your mouth otherwise your lips can bring you to ruin.
Have you experienced being hurt by someone’s tongue? Do you put speaking before thinking?
For whatever reason we are too quick to use our mouth to prove ourselves wise or mature or heroic. Don't do it! Share on X#bible #godisgreat #jesus #christianity#dailybibleverse @youversion#BeAnEncourager #wisdom #quiet#Proverbs #everybodyalways #god#jesuschrist #jesussaves #godisgood#dailydevotion #biblestudy #scripture#bibleverse #verseoftheday #pray#prayer #goodnews #loveeachother#godisgreat #thisVineyard#youversion #everythingalways