Don't talk too much!

Prov. 10:19  Don’t talk too much, for it fosters sin.  Be sensible and turn off the flow!

Some people just like to talk, maybe you are one of them.  Some of us have no problem whatsoever finding things to talk about.  It amazes me how freely some people talk to one another.  I am not one who can just talk on and on about a wide variety of subjects.  I run out of things to talk about.  I tend to be able to talk well about things that really interest me, but struggle to find things to talk about off the top of my head.

It’s okay to be able to talk.  In fact, it is essential for good fellowship.  A good conversationalist makes for good company.  But like just about everything else, too much of good thing is not good anymore.  Some people talk to the point where they no longer are being heard.  There are many reasons why some people dominate a conversation and I won’t get into that.  But, one thing that does happen is that often a person begins to talk others down.  They begin to say negative things and sit in judgment of others.  They tend to talk about things they really don’t know much about.  They spew wrong information.  They tend to make themselves look good in comparison to others or at their expense.  Too much talking often leads a person into sin.

It is much better to exercise discretion and shut off the flow.  Wise are those who know when to shut up.  The Lord gave us two ears and one mouth for a reason.  We learn a lot more by listening to others than we do by talking all the time. 

The Lord tells us to wait before Him.  We are to be still and know that the Lord is God.  We tend to want to do all the talking when we go to the Lord instead of listening to what He has to say.  We struggle to really know the will and mind of the Lord because we are too busy talking to hear His voice.  The Lord has much to say to us and it is far more important and valuable than our thoughts.  We need to rediscover the value of listening.  When was the last time you were still long enough in the Lord’s presence to really know you heard His voice talking to you?