Think Before You Speak

“He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.” Proverbs 18:13

When was the last time that you opened you mouth to say something, but right before you spoke you stopped, realizing that you probably shouldn’t say it? Your conscience convinces you that it is better to remain quiet for a while and think before you speak.

This is a very good quality to have, although it is a quality that not everyone possesses. Some people just seem to love the sound of their own voice sometimes it seems, as whenever a question is asked they immediately feel the need to speak regardless of whether they have any real knowledge of the subject or not. They just desire to receive admiration and praise from others and to feel “big” or important. 

But the Apostle James taught in his letter that we should be slow to speak, but swift to hear. 

James 1:19 “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:”

Swift means quick, fast, or rapid. If you walk swiftly you are walking at a quick pace. Opposite of that is slow, and when used in the verse above means to act with deliberation. It is not done hastily without thinking it through.

We need to be swift to hear, but slow to speak. It teaches us in the Bible, that if don’t know or undertand certain questions, to avoid them. This is especially important when it comes to our salvation and faith. If you are going to talk about something that the Bible teaches, make certain that you understand what it means before you speak, because otherwise not only will you look very foolish, but you could also mislead someone else into a belief that is not true.

“But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.” 2 Timothy 2:23

Think before you speak. Is what I am going to say correct and accurate? Will the thing that I am about to say hurt someone else? Is what I am going to say in agreement with God’s word? As the Bible teaches in Proverbs, a fool will say whatever is in his mind, not caring about the result, but a wise man will wait to speak.

“A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards.” Proverbs 29:11

Remember when the Jews wanted to stone the adulterous woman, Jesus didn’t answer them right away. He picked the correct words and convicted them they were sinners too. 

We need to be quick and ready to hear the word of God. The Proverbs are full of verses about hearing instruction.

“Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.” Proverbs 8:33

“Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.” Proverbs 4:1

The next time someone asks you a question or your thoughts about a matter, think before you speak. Make certain that what you are about to say is good and true. Be quick to listen and hear instruction, but do not speak hastily about the that you do not know.

“Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few.” Ecclesiastes 5:2

In Christ 

Andrew