Has anyone ever told you your mouth gets you in trouble? I can’t say I’ve never heard that one thrown my way before. Why must the mouth prove so intricately linked to sin?
Francis Chan wrote the following in his book, Letters to the Church:
The Bible is clear: those who talk a lot sin a lot. We can never believe that we must sin in order to have greater impact.
Francis Chan, Letters to the Church
The wise writer of Proverbs says this:
Sin is not ended by multiplying words, but the prudent hold their tongues.
Proverbs 10:19
I think the link between our mouth and sin has something to do with a tendency to speak before we think. James had the right idea when he wrote, “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.” James 1:19-20
He ends the first part of his letter by reminding us to control our tongues and do what God accepts: “to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” James 1:27
What we do provides the evidence of our faith in Christ more than what we say. We have no need to prove God’s grace increases by sinning more: he’s already shown it by saving us from our horrible life of sin in the first place. There’s no need to keep proving his grace.
It’s easy to find evidence in the life of the Church that excessive speech usually becomes an attempt to hide sin. How can I show I’m living for Christ if all I’m doing is talking about it? In this case, actions do speak louder than words, and they keep us out of trouble.
Seek the help of the Holy Spirit today in holding your tongue. Ask for his strength to stop and think before you speak. Confess any words you’ve spoken in haste or excess which have led to sin.
This day, seek to walk more than talk.
Grace and Peace
