3 Suggestions for Being Life-Giving with Your Words

“Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.” (Proverbs 13:3)

Maybe you are the person who talks the most in a room. Maybe you know someone like that. Maybe you are the person who walks into an already-going conversation, inserts yourself into it, and the takes over. Maybe you are the person who always thinks they must “top” everyone else’s stories with their own. Maybe you are the person who begins sentences with phrases like, “Well, actually.”

Solomon says that people who talk much are more likely to regret something they say. This is the person, as my Dad would say, just vomits words that are unhelpful. This is someone who is rash with their words. This is someone who lacks self-control with their speech.

And the one who is slow to speak (Jas 1:19) is more likely to not offend and be blessed by God. Those who guard their words carefully choose them; they watch and think about what they will say. They are strategic with how they will craft their sentences.

We can experience the joy of using our words for life and not death, and here are 3 suggestions.

1. Speakless. In fact, you might consider saying half of what you normally say. There is sin in much speech (Prov 10:19). So, math suggests that you if you speak less, you are less likely to sin. And the one who is less likely to speak will develop a reputation of being wise (Prov 17:27-28).

2. Don’t react; think. The quicker we are to react with our words, the more likely we are to have hurtful and harmful words (Prov 12:18). Commit yourself to hear the whole matter before you react (Prov 18:13).

3. Make edification your primary goal in conversation. Seek to build someone up instead of tear them down. Give kindness rule over your tongue (Prov 16:24). Be like David, whose speech won Jonathan as a friend (I Sam 18:1-5). Be like Daniel whose spirit won the trust of King Darius (Dan 6:3). Be like the virtuous woman whose is honored for her gracious speech (Prov 31:26).