This Proverb says, “He who guards his mouth and his tongue, guards his soul from trouble.” What we say to others can have a dramatic effect on their lives. Words we speak can impact others for the rest of their lives, for either good or bad. They can be uplifting and encouraging. They can also be destructive. Therefore, we must choose our words carefully. We must be ‘quick to hear but slow to speak.’
The Bible says that we will be held accountable for the words we speak to others. If we speak rashly and cause pain and damage, God will judge us. We will then have pain and anguish in our lives.
When I was a young man I used to speak without thinking. I let my emotions guide how I responded to others. Later, I found out that my words had caused emotional damage. Unfortunately, that damage could not be easily repaired. I then learned to listen and be careful in how I responded to others. I gave thought as to the possible effect of my words.
Today we see evidence of the damage of words spoken to others, especially in social media. Suicides have increased among young people because of what they say to each other. How sad and tragic that is. Therefore, we must be careful and respond to others with love and encouragement. As grandma used to say, “if you don’t have something good to say don’t say anything at all.”
