Think Before You Speak

“Those who control their tongue will have a long life; opening your mouth can ruin everything.” Proverbs 13:3

Putting your foot in your mouth is a euphemism for saying something stupid. My brother used to say, “The only time I open my mouth is to change feet.” Most of us are guilty of saying the wrong thing at one time or another. 

The Bible says that those who control their tongue will have a long life. During World War II there was a saying that went, “Loose lips sink ships.” Perhaps that is true of our lives as well. Words spoken in anger or at inappropriate times can have damaging consequences. Someone once asked me, “Don’t you want me to say what I’m thinking?” Um. No. Not always. And I certainly don’t always need to say what I’m thinking either.  

We need to weigh our thoughts against the Word of God, the standard for truth. We must strongly consider not just what we say, but how and when we say it. 2 Corinthians 10:5 tells us that we should capture rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ. 

Don’t be guilty of putting your foot in your mouth. Opening your mouth can ruin everything. Instead, make it a practice to think before you speak. Controlling the tongue, after all, can not only keep you from saying something you might regret, according to Proverbs, it could actually affect how long you live.