“Sin is not ended by multiplying words, but the prudent hold their tongues.” (Proverbs 10:19 NIV)
One way to get out of trouble is to stop talking. “Words are, of course, the most powerful drug used by mankind,” Rudyard Kipling. Our mouths are what get us into trouble. We say the wrong thing, we tell a secret, we spread gossip, three easy ways we get in trouble with our mouths. If you want to get out of trouble, keep your mouth shut.
The pastor told this joke in his sermon this week. Three pastors are on a fishing trip. They decide to confess their faults to each other. The first pastor said he loves to drink alcohol. Every other week, he sneaks out of town to go get drunk. The second pastor said he loved to gamble. In fact, he had gambled away the church’s mission fund. The third pastor said he should have gone first. His fault was that he loved to gossip. He couldn’t wait to go home and tell everyone what he had just learned. All three of them got into trouble because of their words. Trouble is compounded with words, the prudent hold their tongues.
Trouble is compounded with words, the prudent hold their tongues.
When Jesus is in front of His accusers, He remains silent (Matthew 26:63). He’s about to be crucified, yet He remains silent. Jesus said very few words as he was sentenced. He was silent as He carried His cross to Golgotha. He said very few words as He hung on the cross. I’ve always marveled at Jesus’ silence at such a time. Now, I’m beginning to understand His silence. Words would have done no good. Nothing Jesus could have said would have stopped the inevitable. He knew words would just cause more upheaval and trouble. He knew the only thing to do was be silent.
When we are under attack, we want to strike back with our words. We have all had great one-liners run through our head we’d love to say to someone who has hurt us. But if we actually said them, they would only cause more heartache, more pain. Those are the thoughts we need to take captive (2 Cor. 10:5 NIV). Those are the times we need to keep our mouth shut, not saying a word. Jesus set the example. He let them draw their own conclusions, He knew He would never change their mind. He also knew, in time the truth would be revealed. He knew He was about to change the world. Trouble is compounded with words, the prudent hold their tongues.
Question of the Day:
What trouble do you need to stop by not talking?
Further Reading: Leviticus 22:17-23:44 NIV, Mark 9:30-10:12 NIV, Psalm 44:1-8 NIV, Proverbs 10:19 NIV
