A Book Of Remembrance: Wisdom From The AgesSample

“Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.”

-Abraham Lincoln-

Let’s face it, we’ve all said things that we have later regretted. As Abraham Lincoln so eloquently states, sometimes we leave people with a false assurance that we are fools! Today’s Bible passage has a similar message, but goes a little farther. 

Sometimes we can actually be seen as wise if we keep our mouths shut when we have nothing of value to add to a conversation or thought. What we say, and sometimes what we DON’T say, can be extremely important in our walk with God. As the Bible says, there is the power of life and death in the tongue. (Proverbs 18:21) What comes out of our mouths can even defile us! (Matthew 15:11)

We all need to learn self-control, especially in regard to our speech. We were created in the image of God and he SPOKE the universe into existence. We too have the power to speak life into other people’s lives. We also must learn when to be silent. Sometimes, people just need a compassionate ear to talk into and a shoulder to cry on. 

So, for today, let us guard our mouths and watch our words. Let us use our words to speak life, and not to spread fire and death. (James 3:6) Let us pray for discernment so we know when to speak, and when to listen with compassionate silence. Let us control the tongue, and not the other way around. For it is a rudder that will steer us along our journey for the remainder of our lives, and beyond.