Gold Nugget
Verse 19: In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, But he who restrains his lips is wise.
Commentary
Once while on a conference call, my partner and I were having a very important discussion with a potential client. Being more seasoned on the particular topic, I knew that we needed to gather some very important information from them. Unfortunately, my partner was talking so much that he would actually interrupt the client while they where trying to give us the information we needed. My partner talked so much that he revealed to the client his lack of knowledge in the field. The old "he didn't know what he didn't know" cost us the job. He tried so hard to impress them with his knowledge that he revealed his lack of knowledge. He didn't know of course, but he talked us right out of a job that we had in the bag. They assumed we knew the field and was actually trying to give us the necessary information to seal the deal. All the while, he continued to try and impress them with a "multitude of words". I tried to signal him to stop talking and listen, but he just gave me an "I got this" look and continued his performance.
Another Proverbs says "Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace; When he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive." Proverbs 17:28 I have actually assumed certain people to be wise or intelligent because of their ability to hold their tongue, only to find out later that the person was not especially wise or exceptionally intelligent. It is an international and timeless truth; the wise know how to posses silence. The old saying, "Better to keep your mouth closed and be thought a fool than to open it and remove all doubt", was just borrowed from Proverbs. Had my partner just "slowed his roll", we would have had that job.
Prayer
Lord, remind me of the value of keeping silent. I want to exhibit the self control that it takes to hold my tongue and avoid the cost of not being able to hold it. I want to avoid the dangers and damage that comes from having a mouth that doesn't know when to shut down. Amen
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