Be Slow To Speak

“To answer before listening— that is folly and shame.” — Proverbs 18:13 NIV

There are three primary virtues every Christian must develop amidst trials. They are:

Be quick to hear
Be slow to speak
Be slow to wrath

These things are fundamental and are stated in James 1:19. However, Apostle James didn’t go deep into them. In today’s devotional, I’d like to speak about the second one on the list (be slow to speak).

Nobody pays anything to utter words. And as a result of that, many people speak rushingly rather than slowly. The preacher Solomon tells us in Proverbs 18:13 that it’s shameful and folly to give answers before listening. In other words, you must be quick to hear questions and other people’s talks and think deeply before gushing out words in response to them.

Words are free to speak but too powerful to ignore what you ought to say. You cannot prevent yourself totally from hearing all kinds of destructive things, either from the media or in physical interactions. However, you choose what stays in your mind, what to say and how to say your response.

One thing that determines how people speak is the content of their hearts. Jesus said that “… the mouth speaks what the heart is full of” (Luke 6:45 NIV). So to become a wise giver of answers, you must fill your heart with godly content, that is, the Word.

People have unsolved problems and unanswered questions. Make up your mind that as a child of God, you’ll be a solution to whatever comes before you and wherever you go. God didn’t create us to meet every need of humanity and society, but He made us to love people. Help one another with what you have, even if it’s words.

You’re a blessing.

Prayer

Oh God, thank you for teaching Me that I ought to think before giving answers. Build Your patience in me by constraining me with Your love whenever I am about to say something that won’t edify my listeners, including myself. In Jesus’ name. Amen!

Devotional Code: KGD // 2022 – 346