Mouthing off
The great collection of wisdom that we call the Book of Proverbs has a LOT to say about what we do with our mouths. This book isn't alone, of course-James, for example, talks about it extensively in his letter. Really, we find teaching all over the Bible, about what we say and how we say it. It's especially prominent in the Proverbs, though. Just to touch on a small fraction of what we find there, some things we might want to take to heart:
"The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things." (Proverbs 15:28) Or as you might see on a sign, "Caution: Engage brain before putting mouth in gear." It's just great advice to think a bit before we mouth off! But the proverb goes beyond mere advice, doesn't it? Yes, it's foolish to spout our opinions without knowing what we're talking about. As another proverb puts it, "The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouths of fools pour out folly." (15:2) But it isn't just folly. If we don't think first, it's likely to be evil things that pour out of our mouths. Not just dumb. Evil.
For example, dishonesty. "Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment." (12:19) Speaking lies may feel easier in the moment. What God's word has to say about lying is a whole study of it's own. How serious is it? The proverb says it: enduring forever is for those who are truthful. As God Himself spoke to John, "The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death." (Revelation 21:7-8) Lies will get us the lake of fire. It's that serious to the one who calls Himself the God of truth.
For another example, starting fights. Often, it turns out, starting losing fights. "A fool's lips walk into a fight, and his mouth invites a beating." (Proverbs 18:6) Words can stir up fights (physical or otherwise) that do lasting damage, to ourselves as well as others.
Not just fights. "Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin." (13:3) Hasty, unthinking words can cause ruin-to our relationships, our careers, our families, our own mental wellbeing. It's said several different ways:
"Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble." (21:23)
"A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back." (29:11)
"When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent." (10:19)
Does at least one of these resonate with you? Ever gotten yourself into trouble with something you've said? Yeah, me too. But we should see from these verses that we're talking about more than embarrassment here. Feel like a fool? Well, probably we should. But when we mouth off, we're being taught, we're crossing a line, into transgression. Not just foolish-actively doing wrong.
What does God want, what does He expect, of his sons and daughters? He expects us to ponder how to answer. To commend knowledge. He expects truthful lips. Guarding our mouth. Holding back. Restraining our lips. He does not care for it when we mouth off.
It is no excuse that being a fool, speaking without thinking first, venting, comes so easily and naturally. No excuse that we've been provoked. Or that everybody else is doing it. Or that the "mouth" we're using is fingers on a keyboard or thumbs on a phone.
In these proverbs we are given some better signs to put up than the one about engaging the brain before the mouth. Better because they're from the One who made us and can save us: "Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life." God said that. And also, "Truthful lips endure forever." And, "The one who conquers will have this heritage-I will be their God and they will be my son, my daughter."
Love, Paul