Shhh

What gets us into more trouble than anything else? Our mouth. There are many scriptures that tell us to shut up. Today we are taught that saying shut up is rude when if fact sometimes saying shut up might save someone from many troubles. If you think shut up is rude then we can just say shhh. What ever we use telling someone to watch what they say is not a bad thing most of the time. Let’s look at some scripture on what the bible tells us about our speech and our mighty member, the tongue. · 23 Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles. Prov 21:23 (KJV) · 27 He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit. 28 Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding. Prov 17:27-28 (KJV) · 11 The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked. Prov 10:11 (KJV) These proverbs tell us that if we don’t talk we can keep our souls from trouble. Even a fool seems wise when he doesn’t talk. We know this is true because we have all made fools of ourselves be saying something we shouldn’t have. The last proverb says that the mouth of a righteous man is a well of life. Think about this. What does a well do? It sustains our lives by supplying us water. If the water is no good we suffer, if the water is good it gives us life. We need to bring life every where we go, so we need to speak good things. ARE WE WORTHY TO READ THIS? I asked myself this while preparing this study. Think about this for a second. When we read the words in red in our bible we are reading the words of our Lord Jesus. When we speak the words, we are repeating the words of Jesus. Are we worthy to repeat the words of Jesus? Words are very important to God. Let’s see what Jesus had to say about this subject. 10 And he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand: 11 Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man. Matt 15:10-11 (KJV) This changed the law on what we eat. This is how important it is to be quiet. What comes out of our mouth can defile us. 34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. 35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. 36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. 37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned. Matt 12:34-37 (KJV) Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. What do people hear from your heart. We will find out one day because we will give an account for EVERY IDLE WORD. I don’t know about you but this scares me. We will be justified and condemned by our words. This is why it is better to tell someone to shut up. Maybe it will get their attention. Maybe it will hurt their feelings but maybe they will not be condemned. 33 Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths: 34 But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne: 35 Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. 36 Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. 37 But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil. Matt 5:33-37 (KJV) It is ok to be short spoken. We are not supposed to add anything to what we say. We are supposed to say what needs to be said and that is it. If someone asks us a question we should answer the question, not explain the answer or make an excuse for the answer. Let’s let our yes be yes and our no be no. 5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. 7 For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: 8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 9 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. 10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. 11 Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? 12 Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh. James 3:5-12 (KJV) Do we want our tongue to do good or bad? It is capable of doing both and at least half the time we do not do good. Isn’t it amazing how when we hear something really good we tell a few people or we may even forget about it? When we hear something really bad we feel there is a need for us to tell everyone we know and sometimes we even tell people we don’t know. Satan knows our weaknesses and he knows what defiles us. Remember, we will give an account for every idle word. This is what we say in public and what we say behind closed doors, maybe even what we say when we are by ourselves. So what can we do? Is there a way out? YES God always gives his children a way out. 19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: James 1:19 (KJV) 25-26 Slow to speak is the key. Some people will call you rude if you don’t talk as much as they do, but God’s word tells us to be slow to speak and quick to listen. I have found that when you say very little you learn so much more than when you talk. I also have never been quiet and wandered if I offended someone. 3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; 4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. Eph 5:3-4 (KJV) Let’s not say anything if it can be considered foolish talking. We need to put all of our speech through this test. Could what I am going to say be considered foolish talking or is it something that is necessary. 7 A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; Eccl 3:7 (KJV) God’s word says there is a time to keep silent and a time to speak. . 3 Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips. Psalms 141:3 (KJV) Let’s make this one of our daily prayers. A watch was a group of soldiers. There was a watch set outside of Jesus’ tomb. David understood how important it was to keep his mouth under control. We all need to understand how important it is that we control our mouth and also monitor our words to see what is in our hearts. If what we say is not edifying and does not glorify God then we need to change what we say.