October 12th

Holding Your Peace

Proverbs 17:28
Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.

Remove All Doubt

There is a popular expression that appears to have been spoken by either Abraham Lincoln or Mark Twain that says, “Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and to remove all doubt.” This is the essence of Proverbs 17:28, though there are other implications as well.

People love to talk. The ability to communicate by speech is the one thing that differentiates humans from the animal kingdom. You might say that it is a godlike characteristic, though it has obviously been used in some ungodly manners.

Be Counted Wise

The proverb is giving us one of the obvious benefits of remaining silent, and being a person of few words, and that is that one who remains quiet is counted wise, and esteemed a person of understanding. It tends to create a good impression, instead of the bad impression that talking too much can produce.

Let Your Words Be Few

Jesus Himself taught on the subjects of letting our words be few.

Matthew 5:37 But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.

Other Scriptures speak of refraining the lips.

Proverbs 10:19 In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.

The letter of James gives us further instruction in this subject.

James 1:19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:

Learn More by Listening

One point to be made here is that we will grow faster in the things of God by hearing than we will by talking. If I am talking, I am only hearing what I already know, and not learning anything new.

James 1:21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.

Begin today to develop the habit of being a listener, one who is a hearer and a doer of the word.