Proverbs 10:19

Too much talk leads to sin. Be sensible and keep your mouth shut.

Could it really be true? The more you talk…the more you sin? Think about that for a minute and consider what kinds of sin are associated with your words:

Gossip

Flattery

Lying

Exaggerating

Crude Speech

Unwholesome Talk

Angry Words

Slander

Complaining

Judging

Boastful Speech

As you look through this list, consider how often these sins come out of your mouth. A few times a day? A few times an hour? James reminds us in no uncertain terms that “the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life,and set on fire by hell.For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, ⁸ but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers,these things ought not to be so” (Jas. 3:6-10).

A sensible Christian not only knows what God’s Word says about the power of their words – for good or for evil – but also knows the value in keeping their daily word count down. The cold, hard fact is that the higher our word count goes each day, the more sin we engage in. In our pursuit of holiness we must curb the temptation to be quick to speak…and embrace the reality that when we hold our tongues, we please our Father and love our neighbors more.