Proverbs 31:26 She has opened her mouth in wisdom and the law of compassion is upon her tongue.
“Loose lips sink ships” is a proverbial proverb and a cautious caveat to open our lips circumspectly. Statistics say that we spend almost 1/5th of our lifetime talking! Our words per day, if documented, would be about 50 pages and would sum up to 132 volumes of 200 to 400 pages each, per year! With our words, an average person would write about 3,000 volumes in their entire lifetime. Words expose the ponderings and perturbations of the soul. We can speak from our mind or from our heart as we think from both our mind and our heart. The mind is driven by what it sees, hears and feels – The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God (Romans 8:7). However, the heart thinks from what is stored in it – For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks (Luke 6:45).
There are times we say what we really don’t mean in our heart. An angry mind is sporadic and spills out statements that the heart regrets later. Those who speak instinctively and impetuously are controlled by their emotions and excitements, but the wise open their mouth only in wisdom as their mouth is bridled by precepts, principles and precautions. King David’s wife made a rash comment about his worship. The King of Israel, disrobed from his royal garments, clothed himself in linen and danced in worship before the Lord. When Queen Michal saw her husband dancing with the drove, she deleteriously mocked and ridiculed him. 2 Samuel 6:20 “How the king of Israel has distinguished himself today, going around half-naked in full view of the slave girls of his servants as any vulgar fellow would!” Michal opened her mouth in stupor and brought a curse over her life. Michal, Saul’s daughter, never had any children (2 Samuel 6:23). Words of the wise are few but the foolish blurt deadly maledicts.
Choose your words wisely:
- Precepts: Precepts hidden in our heart will stop us speaking precariously. I have hidden your word in my heart to the end that I might not sin against you (Psalm 119:11). God’s word concealed in our heart will be revealed through our lips. Those who hate discipline, direction and decree will be reactive to their emotions and not responsive to the precepts. To become wise, hide the word of God in your heart.
- Principles: The choice of words and behaviour are determined by the choice of what is stored in the library of our heart. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander (Matthew 15:19). The principles from the Word of God are the ethical pillars of purity to our pathway. Declutter bitterness, brawling and bragging. Wisdom from the mouth flows from the library of our heart.
- Precautions: The precepts and principles are the precautions, warnings and counsel that shape our words. Evil plans are an abomination to the Lord. But pleasant words are pure (Proverbs 15:26). Malevolence of the heart births malign words in our mouth. Fools despise wisdom and instruction (Proverbs 1:7b). Warnings from the Word, are preventive and protective precautions.
Purify the heart and mind by rinsing them with the Word of God.
Psalm 26:2 Examine me, O Lord, and try me; Test my mind and my heart.
Prayer: Dear Jesus, beat the foolish out of my heart. May my words only be wise and prudent. Amen.
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