The Power of WordsSample

Hold Your Tongue

So, here we are at the end of our week, talking about the power of words.

I felt that it was appropriate to conclude by saying that it is often wisest to keep quiet when it comes to speaking.

Solomon writes that when there are many words, sin is not absent (Proverbs 10:19). Our words can get us into a lot of trouble.

I remember one time I was leading a choir. I had two rows of women in the front and one row of men in the back. We were working on phrasing and flow, and I passionately coached them to be their best. It was all going very well until I made a critical error.

What I meant to say to the women was, “Women, I need bigger breaths.”

You might guess what I actually accidentally said.

The guys in the choir just sat down, as if to say, “You got yourself into this one, brother. You can try and get yourself out.”

I think we had all had enough for that practice.

A wise man once said, “Better to be silent and thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt.”

Henri Nouwen said, “Somewhere we know that without silence, words lose their meaning.”[1]

For many of us, the best thing we can do is be quiet. We need to listen more and be slower to spout our opinions or advice.

There is a time to be silent and a time to speak (Ecclesiastes 3:7). May God grant us the wisdom to know the difference and to respond humbly and accordingly.

Prayer: Dear Lord, help me with the self-control to be quick to listen and slow to speak. I can say things without thinking and get myself or others into more trouble than necessary. I want to be a man that is considerate and thoughtful. Please help me to hold my tongue. Thank You for the example You set when You were here on earth. You chose times not to respond to the accusations of people around You. You chose times of silence. You also chose times to speak. Help me be more like You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Reflection: Are you prone to being quick to talk? Have you already formulated your response before the other person has even finished saying their point? When is it hard for you to be quiet? When is the right time to speak?

[1] Henri J. M. Nouwen, Spiritual Formation: Following the Movements of the Spirit, p.21, Harper Collins, 2010.

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