Every Idle Word (part 2)
August 31, 2021
Every Idle Word (part 2)
With Bishop Ronald K. Powell
Proverbs 17:28 Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.
Improve your image and reputation today…
Anyone can do it, even a fool. Cut your words in half – others will consider you a wise and knowledgeable person.
What a proverb! Here is profound advice and a wise tip to quickly enhance what others think about you.
-
-
Hasty speech, unstudied speech, or much speech marks a fool.
-
Closing your mouth and reducing your words will cause others to assume you are a wise and understanding person, even if you are a fool.
-
God and King Solomon, both truly wise, guarantee it.
-
Speech reveals character…
Proverbs 15:2 The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, But the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness.
Proverbs 29:11 A fool vents all his feelings, But a wise man holds them back.
Ecclesiastes 5:3 For a dream comes through much activity, And a fool’s voice is known by his many words.
Ecclesiastes 10:12-14 12 The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious,But the lips of a fool shall swallow him up; 13 The words of his mouth begin with foolishness,
And the end of his talk is raving madness. 14 A fool also multiplies words. No man knows what is to be; Who can tell him what will be after him?
Careful, deliberate, profitable, and proper speech marks a wise man. Hasty, impulsive, vain, and froward words mark a foolish and wicked man. A fool seldom says anything profitable or suitable (Eccl 10:3), but reducing his words will cause others to think he is careful and deliberate.
It is wise to see and hear well, but to say little…
-
- You learn by listening, not by talking.
- You should not talk until necessary or profitable.
- Others will assume your silence indicates careful observation and deep consideration of the topic and a deep search for the right thoughts and words before speaking.
- Has a wise reputation ever been so cheap? Never!
The tongue is dangerous and easily hurts others…
Proverbs 10:19 In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, But he who restrains his lips is wise.
James 3:2-12 For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. 3 Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. 4 Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. 5 Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. 7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. 8 But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. 10 Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? 12 Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh.
So wise men limit words to avoid sin…
Proverbs 17:27 He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.
Job 13:5 O that ye would altogether hold your peace! and it should be your wisdom.
They study before speaking
It is better to be swift at hearing than at speaking
James 1:19-20 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: 20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.
God gave you two ears but only one mouth. Cutting your words in half will then match your anatomy.
Ah, but the fire to speak burns in some men
- They cannot quench this fire; they cannot reduce the heat; they cannot rule the impulse; they must talk, now!
- What a curse to have an unruly mouth and tell everyone within hearing distance that you are a fool.
- Close your mouth, and even though you truly are one, no one but you will know it.
This proverb does not apply to all men, as some do not speak enough.
Wise men learn the balance, not too much to be foolish, enough to be a tree of life
Proverbs 10:21 The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom.
Proverbs 15:4 A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.
It is this careful application of absolute Bible statements that results in truth and wisdom. If you press this rule on quiet men that seldom speak, they would never say anything.
If this rule is true for men, it is truer for women, whose adorning feature is a meek and quiet spirit
A talkative woman should cut her words in half to make sure she is not despised as the odious and clamorous woman.
- President Abraham Lincoln said “It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak out and remove all doubt.” It is safer and more beneficial to be reserved, try it.
- If you do not have anything necessary, profitable, or good to say, why talk? Others do not need noise to be happy or content.
- Silence is golden. Making conversation to fill a void is disturbing the peace and foolish talking, for which you will be judged.
You are then the fulfillment of crackling thorns that Solomon so despised.
What a proverb! What practical advice from God and Solomon! Most people do not appreciate the incredible value of the Bible, for they have not read it, or they have not had teachers that read it. Thank God for inspiring a book that covers everything from creation to the effect of speech on reputation to the final judgment and everything in between.
Closing:
The Lord Jesus Christ warned that you will give an account for every idle word in the Day of Judgment (Matt 12:36). So provide wisely for your future at His judgment seat and protect your present reputation by holding your peace and shutting your lips. Here is a double blessing, at least. Please God and men by reducing your words.
Though men may think you wise for your reduced speech, the living Word of God is not deceived at all. All things are naked and opened before His eyes; He discerns the very thoughts and intents of your heart (Heb 4:12-14). So it is better to forsake your foolishness altogether and seek true wisdom in your heart. You cannot mislead Him.
- Bishop Ronald K. Powell
- Every Idle Word
- 1 Peter 3:3-4
- Eccl 10:3
- Ecclesiastes 10:12-14
- Ecclesiastes 5:3
- Ecclesiastes 7:4-6
- Ephesians 5:3-5
- Heb 4:12-14
- James 1:19-20
- James 3:2-12
- Job 13:5
- Matt 12:36
- Proverbs 10:19
- Proverbs 10:21
- Proverbs 11:16
- Proverbs 12:18
- Proverbs 15:2
- Proverbs 15:23
- Proverbs 15:28
- Proverbs 15:4
- Proverbs 17:27
- Proverbs 17:28
- Proverbs 18:21
- Proverbs 27:15
- Proverbs 29:11
- Proverbs 9:13
- Psalm 39:1-3