Proverbs 29:20 Where are those bandaids?

There is more hope for a fool than for someone who speaks without thinking.

Hasty words.

There is a lot of pain in those two words, isn't there?

My grandma used to say that it was "running your mouth before your brain was engaged."

Hasty words have caused hurt feelings for spouses, hurt souls for children, and sometimes have ended careers as well as relationships.

Words really do mean something. What you say today, this morning, can have repercussions all day, all week, and on and on. Perhaps the rest of your life.

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. (Eccl. 5:2)

 My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, (James 1:19)

There are loads of examples of politicians and preachers alike who have opened their mouth before their brain was engaged. But you and I do this at home, too, don't we?

I'm sure that as spouses and parents we have all said things that we can never take back. We may have hurt souls, young and old, with our rashness and temper. Looking back, we've been foolish.

While I go and get that box of bandaids for my own toes, and possibly yours, let's make a new dedication of ourselves to avoid hasty words. Let's think carefully before we respond to anyone, particularly to our spouses and our children. They are going to remember, and our relationships will be affected by rash speech and unkind words. It's easier to erase a "whupping" from one's mind than it is a verbal lashing.
We need to think before we speak, especially if we are angry, or if we are hurt, ourselves. Let's not be foolish.

Proverbs 13: 2 - 3 Hold Your Tongue!

Umph, mfff, nnn, huffwupff, umvpppt . . . OK, all silliness aside, how many times did you hear the phrase "hold your tongue!" when you were growing up? Well, they didn't really mean to hold it, right? Cos if you did, you would probably sound like those first words that I typed up there.  :)    I bet it was usually when you were pretty young, and someone older either wanted you to hush momentarily, or they didn't want you to go down the path you were going, in the conversation.

Carpenters have a rule that they go by --- you may have heard it. "Measure twice, and cut once." In other words, make certain of the measure; check it a second time, and only then make your cut. It might be transposed in the light of these verses, to say "Think twice, speak once." I know that if I followed that mantra myself, I'd be a lot better off!

If we fill our mouths with praise and thanksgiving, and speak often to others about our Lord, then our speech will be gracious, and edifying as in Ephesians 4:29, and again in Colossians 4:6.  Then, instead of our tongue being a fire, like in James 3:6, it will bring glory and honor to God. Matthew Henry's commentary notes that the person who "keeps a strong bridle on his tongue and a strict hand on that bridle, he keeps his soul from a great deal both of guilt and grief" and also can avoid bitterness and a poor reputation. The destruction mentioned in verse three can mean the loss of reputation, respect, or relationships. Those are all things that we should try to guard ourselves from losing, in order to be good servants of Christ.

Hmmmm . . . "Think twice, and speak once."  I think I might need to write that on a card and post it here on my desk. And another one at the sink. And another one at the mirror. If ya'll will excuse me......

Proverbs 12: 5 - 6 Imagine That! What's the Good Word?

I thought we could look at these two verses together --- they fit together like two spoons in the kitchen drawer!

Notice the the first one has to do with our thoughts... Remember when we were kids? When a parent was lecturing us and asked us a question, we would grit our teeth and say "yes ma'am" or "no sir" as needed, but if we were still angry, we were imagining saying some very different things, weren't we?! (OK, now, am I the only one here that will own up to being rebellious?! LOL)  Well, that was just echoing inside our little heads, and even today, it doesn't matter what I THINK, it only matters what I SAY or DO......right?

Ahem. Please turn with me to Genesis 6:5.  I'll wait. Next, let's try Matthew 9:4.

Anybody besides me have some bruised toes now? How often do you stop to think that God knows every thought you have? That's what these verses say.  Now, I will admit that the verse in Genesis was referring to the sinful, natural men in the world. And the verse in Matthew was referring to the scribes --- a group of prideful schemers, jealous of the influence that Christ had on the people He ministered to. But the fact remains true; since God never changes, He still knows our thoughts. As followers of His Son, our thoughts should be influenced and shaped by our desire to honor Him.  I can't recall now who said, "A man can't be faulted for a stray thought that is un-righteous....it's kind of like a bird that swoops down and gets tangled up in his hair for an instant, and flies away. Now, it's completely different if he allows that bird to build a nest there!"

Verse six is the one that has to do with our speech --- notice that the wicked are characterized as wanting to do mischief; in fact, more than mischief, they actually want harm to come to others. They "lie in wait for blood"....but I like the second portion of the verse, and my thought as I read this is, "I sure hope I'm like that!" You see, the "mouth" of the upright is also the "word" or the "speech" of the upright;  we don't need to be silent, but to open our mouth and speak for those who need comfort, encouragement, or justice. I hope that I am always ready to open my mouth to plead for, and witness to those who need to hear a good word.  If it is the good word of the gospel, God may even use that to deliver them.

My commentary said that we "may sometimes do a very good work with one good word."  What is a good word that you can speak to someone today?