Proverbs 29:20 - "Do you see a man hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him."

Are you like me at times and you offend others because you don't engage your brain before shifting your tongue into drive? Have you ever spoken words and wished you could pull them back in before you even finish saying them? The communication of the hasty tongue is done too quickly to be thoughtful or wise.

No matter how holy we are, we will eventually offend somebody because of hasty speech. Because we can never be totally aware of all of the sensitivities of others, we must depend upon the Holy Spirit to direct our speech in a way that does not tap into their pain, distress, or other negative experiences. I have seen people innocently offend others in an attempt to interject humor into a situation. I try to practice not being easily offended and often give others the benefit of the doubt when they make a hasty remark I might otherwise find offensive.

The Bible cautions, "He who answers before listening--that is his folly and his shame" (Proverbs 18:13). Sometimes we can be so anxious to have an answer that we fail to listen correctly to the questions that are asked or the need that is being presented. It is important to listen more than we speak.

God does not want us to be flaky. He expects us to keep our promises. In the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon warns us against making a hasty, ill- considered vow to the Lord. "Do not be rash with your mouth, and let not your heart utter anything hastily before God" (Ecclesiastes 5:2). He goes on to explain that we should not try to wiggle out of our commitment by saying that it was a mistake.

Most of us are plagued with the ability to speak in haste. We should practice this technique; "Stop, think, and pray before you speak." James, the Lord's brother, said it best. "Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak" (James 1:19).

Have you ever wondered why God gave us two ears and one mouth? Perhaps we are to spend twice as much time listening than talking. A good pause would serve us well in the long run. Time and words are two things that, once gone, can never be recovered. We must take time to weigh our words before we release them.

Prayer: Lord, help me today to think before I speak. Help me to be sensitive to the feelings of others that I do not offend others in my haste. Teach me to think through my thoughts and ask your guidance before blurting out my initial response to situations. Amen.

God Bless You,

Pastor Karen
The Summit Church at Birmingham
www.thesummitbham.com