A Time to Keep Silent and a Time to SpeakNäide

Bridle your tongue

“Do not be quick with your mouth,
do not be hasty in your heart
to utter anything before God.
God is in heaven
and you are on earth,
so let your words be few.” (Ecclesiastes 5:2)

Words once spoken cannot be taken back. So it is important to consider carefully what you say! This is why James 1:26 advises us to always be ready to listen to others, but to be “slow” to respond. Especially when we are angry about something, it is important not to express our frustrations unfiltered, but to think before we open our mouths.

This applies to conversations with other people, but also in our communication with God, as emphasized by the book of Ecclesiastes. We are so small in comparison to our great and holy God! Our understanding of the world is limited and we are limited in our capabilities as well. Therefore, let us not be too quick to make great promises to people. And let us think about how we speak to the Lord. This does not mean that we should not pray! If our attitude is humble and reverent, it will affect the tone of our prayers.

What helps you to reflect before you say something? In which situations do you find this most difficult, and when do you find it easy?