Slow To Speak #fighter verse

Fighter Verse For 10–18–15

Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. -James 1:19–20

Some Slow To Speak Cross-References:

• Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. To draw near to listen is better than to offer the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they are doing evil. Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth. Therefore let your words be few. -Ecclesiastes 5:1–2
• When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent. -Proverbs 10:19
• Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin. -Proverbs 13:3
• Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble. -Proverbs 21:23
• If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. -James 1:26

Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be slow to speak. The desire of our God is that every Christian be slow to speak. This does not mean that we are not to speak. Our gospel is a message spread by words. So what does it mean?

The word slow actually means “stupid, dull, and inactive.” Teenagers who hear this might think “O Yah! I can do that perfectly for the glory of Jesus!” But the idea is that as far as our speaking faculty is concerned; it’s as if our mouth becomes inactive and unable to move until the other person who is speaking is done. Our minds are not dull, but our mouth is until the opportunity arises for us to open it. And open it, we must; but we are to be slow in regard to the speed at which we speak forth words.

The bad news of the Bible tells us no man can tame the tongue. The good news of the Bible is that Jesus perfectly tamed his tongue, and was the pinnacle example of how we are to be slow to speak. When he was led to the slaughter, he opened not his mouth. Jesus not only died for our sinful actions, but for our sinful and foolish speech as well.