Proverbs 17:27
 A truly wise person uses few words; a person with understanding is even-tempered. (NLT)

The average person speaks somewhere between 7,000 to 20,000 words a day. That’s a lot of room to get into trouble. A lot of opportunities to accidentally say something you’ll regret. One former U.S. President, Calvin Coolidge, famously said, “I have noticed that nothing I never said ever did me any harm.” 

Proverbs says something similar: “When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent” (Proverbs 10:19)

And then one of my favorites: “Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise” (Proverbs 17:28)

One of the simplest ways to improve how we use words is to…speak less. Words are so powerful that we need to guard how many we actually use. For you to really consider whether a word is true enough, kind enough, timely enough, and direct enough is impossible if you say too many of them.

Now this isn’t a one-up for all the introverts or shy folks out there. It’s simply a wise truth. And it is a repeated theme that we should take note of.

It’s a balance: we need words, they bring life, AND we need to think carefully about what we say. “The heart of the godly thinks carefully before speaking (Proverbs 15:28). This calls for a kind of wisdom and restraint.

You see this on full display in mature Jesus followers. Their words carry real weight, they are very thoughtful, they use their words to build up, and you leave talking with them genuinely encouraged to follow Jesus.

One way to do this is to take James 1:19–20 seriously, “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.” Given the way we are prone to defend ourselves and are easily provoked, frustrated, and angered — the words of James are really needed.

It's a lot easier to run my mouth than it is to listen to someone else. When you slow down and listen to what the other person says without arguing, being defensive, or thinking through your rebuttal, you serve the other person by choosing to understand. When we listen we act like Jesus, who puts the needs of others before himself.

There is a lot more to say on the subject, but today’s takeaway is a simple lesson: speak less.

Think before you speak, restrain your words, make them count, and like a muscle in a gym, you will grow in this area through resistance training.

Wednesday’s Reflection

Today, let’s pray Psalm 141:3 “Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!” God is offering to help you and part of the good life he wants you to experience starts here.