Even fools are thought wise when they keep
silent; with their mouths shut, they seem intelligent. Proverbs 17:28
Like Mark Twain said…
It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than
to open it and remove all doubt. Consider the writings
of the minor prophet, Amos, who warned the Israelites once again not to worship
the pagan gods, but to return to worshiping the one true God. Then he wrote:
So those who are smart keep their mouths
shut, for it is an evil time. Do what is good and run from evil so that you may
live! Then the LORD God of Heaven's Armies will be your helper, just as you
have claimed. Hate evil and love what is good; turn your courts into true halls
of justice. Perhaps even yet the LORD God of Heaven's Armies will have mercy on
the remnant of his people. Therefore, this is what the Lord, the LORD God of
Heaven's Armies, says: "There will be crying in all the public squares and
mourning in every street. Call for the farmers to weep with you, and summon
professional mourners to wail.” Amos 5:13-16.
Good advice—keep your mouth shut. I’ve
heard some additional wise words…keep your eyes and ears open and your mouth
shut. It is far better to observe and listen before speaking. It goes along
with that idiom of putting your foot in your mouth. Oops. That is saying the
wrong thing at the wrong time. How very embarrassing. Israel
needed to listen to this prophet. God’s army of angels will have mercy on His
chosen ones—Israel. Perhaps we all need to listen to this prophet’s advice.
I think I’ll just keep my mouth closed. I
don’t offend others that way—and then those around me who are hard of hearing
won’t have to ask me what I just said…and I won’t have to yell a response to
them. Yelling seems to signify anger…and I’m not mad…or foolish. Most people’s
actions speak louder than their words—so hopefully others see Jesus in the way
I live. Do those around you see Jesus in you?
Prayer
~ Lord Jesus, may I keep my eyes and ears open—so that I listen and observe—and
keep my mouth shut. I want to honor You in all that I think, do and say…and
with my mouth closed I won’t be putting my foot in it.
© 2016 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.
All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT)
unless otherwise noted.
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