Proverbs 21:23

Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble.

This is short, to the point and obvious, but how often we fail to follow it. Everyday you can find a headline where some politician or leader says something that he or she later regrets. Everyday there’s a husband who says something to his wife that damages their relationship. Everyday there’s a father who says something to his child that will have a detrimental effect that will last for decades.

But this scripture gives us a way out; a way to keep us from doing damage to ourselves and others…just keep our words to ourselves…think before we speak.

There’s a line of thinking that goes something like this:

“Well, I just spoke the truth. If they can’t handle, that’s their problem.”

Well…yes and no. The goal in communicating is share information, a thought, a feeling, a fact…with some end goal…increased understanding, reconciliation, a call to action, etc.; usually something good. If you “speak the truth”, and its not received because it was stated in the wrong way, at the wrong time, to the wrong person, what have you accomplished? Often more trouble, especially when our words are “dripping” with emotions. We can make a mess everywhere.

Be wise and think through the consequences before you speak.