Zip it

Ron Furgerson has been at New Life many, many years. Not only has he served on the Leadership Team at New Life and been a Campus Pastor, he currently serves on the Pray Team and is a Chat Host for the Online Campus.

Ron also has a wonderful blog. He posts some really insightful things and recently posted about “Taming the Tongue”.

Its been said that: “Words are free. It’s how you use them that may cost you.”  And Proverbs 21:23 teaches that: “Whosoever keepeth his mouth and his tongue, keepeth his soul from trouble.”  That being the case and in order to avoid trouble, the following is a list of situations where it is probably wise to say nothing without giving real serious thought to what you’re doing and the possible consequences.  I know from painful personal experience that each of these admonitions is well founded.  I’m just say’n.  RMF

  Don’t open your mouth:

• In the heat of anger – Proverbs 14:17
• When you don’t have all the facts – Proverbs 18:13
• When you haven’t verified the story – Deuteronomy 17:6
• If your words will offend a weaker brother – 1 Corinthians 8:11
• If you words will reflect poorly on the Lord or your friends and family – Peter 2:21-23
• When you are tempted to joke about sin – Proverbs 14:9
• When you would be ashamed of or regret your words later – Proverbs 8:8
• When you are tempted to make light of holy things – Ecclesiastes 5:2
• If the issue is none of your business – Proverbs 14:10
• When you are tempted to tell an outright lie, convey misleading or incomplete information, or leave a wrong impression. – Proverbs 4:24; 17:27, Zachariah 8:16
• If your words will damage someone’s reputation – Proverbs 16:27, Leviticus 19:16
• If your words will destroy or endanger a friendship – Proverbs 25:28
• When you are feeling critical – James 3:9
• When you should be listening – Proverbs 13:1
• If you may have to eat your words later – Proverbs 18:21
• If you have already said it more than once (it becomes nagging) – Proverbs 19:13
• When you are tempted to flatter a wicked person – Proverbs 24:24
• When you are supposed to be working instead – Proverbs 14:23

It is also wise to zip the lip: when tempted to boast, when your words would be idle chatter, if your words would be heard as profanity, and if your words would betray a confidence.

Great insights and verses to consider when involved in any of these situations. What verse sticks out to you the most? Share your thoughts below as we would love to hear! If you want to see the original blog post click here.