Bite Your Tongue

For Monday October 3, 2005
Proverbs 13:3

Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life;
he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.

The image here of a guarded mouth comes from the world of warfare, and defense against an enemy. One usually guards the weak point, or the valuable position or place. One guards it against invading enemies.

The mouth is the entry point for food and drink, but it is "what comes out of a man that defiles him," not what goes into him. We must guard the mouth, not against invaders coming in, but against our own sin emerging.

Knowing the time to speak and the time to refrain from speaking requires wisdom of course. There is a time when words must be spoken, and that is the fitting time. That is when whatever pearls we have been granted will be valued and treasured, instead of squandered in a wrong moment of time.

How often we say and wish "I'd like to take that back!" But when the guard has dropped, the enemy has already done its work, and ruin is close at hand.

What do you find is the thing you must guard against? Is it intemperate speech when you feel attacked? Know Christ uttered not a word when accused. Is it coarse joking? Know that our unlovely parts are covered, giving them special honor. Is it careless words that bring hurt to others? Know that God can restore that which is broken, by speaking words that declare forgiveness.