Proverbs of Solomon - Proverbs 16:1 - 18:24

Proverbs of Solomon - Proverbs 16:1 - 18:24

^18:6 A fool’s lips bring him strife,
    and his mouth invites a beating.

^18:7 A fool’s mouth is his undoing,
    and his lips are a snare to his soul.

^18:8 The words of a gossip are like choice morsels;
    they go down to a man’s inmost parts.
One of the themes of yesterday's reading was the importance of listening to God's Word--really listening, obeying, and heeding.

In this section of today's reading, we learn of the danger of too much talking!  There's much wisdom in the old saying that goes like this: "God gave you two ears and one mouth--use them in that proportion!"  Or this one, "Better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt!"

We all know how much danger our mouths can get us into: words that can never be withdrawn, hurt that can never be undone, bad advice that can never be taken back.  It's easy to get into trouble by talking too much... but not as easy to  get into trouble for listening too much!

...the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts.
Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body.
It corrupts the whole person,
sets the whole course of his life on fire,
and is itself set on fire by hell.
                      - James 3:5-6