“that you may maintain discretion and your lips may preserve knowledge.”

Staying quiet is difficult for many people. I’m on that list, I’m afraid. I have gotten better over the years, but early in my ministry I spent far too much time going back to people and apologizing for things I said that should never have left my mouth. Here, Solomon reminds us that as we grow in God’s wisdom, what we share should reflect Him. But the real value is that we learn to practice discretion—not only in what we share, but in when we open our mouths. In other words, we speak less. In most cases, like mine, that is one of God’s gifts to the world. Proverbs speaks a great deal about our mouths. So does the letter from James. It is only the supernatural intervention of God’s Spirit that enables us to know what to share and when. A powerful lesson is that not everything that enters our minds needs to be spoken out loud. Even truth must be shared judiciously. Unless a heart is prepared, or unless God leads us to speak, we are essentially “casting pearls before swine.” It is not our job to identify who is swine, but it is our responsibility to remain quiet unless God leads us to speak. James put it this way: “Be quick to listen and slow to speak…” Today, listen. #BeTheEdge

“My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak…” James 1:19a NIV