Jump start # 3874
Proverbs 10:19 “When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise.”
One of the blessings of the website of my home congregation is the volume of fresh material that is added every week. Two sermons, two classes, five Jump Starts, three podcasts and five Quick Quotes are added every week. There is nothing stale or stagnate on that website. It is a wealth of information, tools and help for our spiritual journey.
Recently, one of the daily Quick Quotes read: “Don’t use a gallon of words to express a spoonful of thought.” Boy, that’s helpful to remember. Some people like to talk. And, for many of them, their favorite topic to talk about is themselves. Some how in every conversation, they weave in stories about themselves.
Our verse today mirrors that Quick Quote. Many words lead to many transgressions. The opposite must be true as well. Few words lead to fewer transgressions. Have you thought about this? Why do many words lead to transgressions?
First, a lot of talking leads one to stepping out of bounds with our mouth. Gossip. Lying. Tale bearing. Bragging. Judging critically. We can tip toe right up to those dangerous lines and it sure doesn’t take much until we have crossed over into forbidden territory of wrong. The ole’ saying, ‘loose lips sinks ships,’ is very true. Some cannot keep things quiet. There are things between a husband and wife that no one else needs to know. NO ONE. That includes parents and in-laws and out-laws. There are things that shepherds in the church know about that others do not need to know. This includes the wives of the shepherds. Talking too much can create so many problems.
Second, a lot of talking leads to speculation, guessing and saying things without the knowledge of them being true. Our culture loves conspiracy theories. People write books about such things. When we are talking about things without knowledge we can create fear, suspicion and doubt in others. We are to build each other up, not tear each other down. Someone walks forward Sunday morning during the invitation song. They confess that they have done wrong. The minds start swirling. What could it be? Some think this? Others will claim that they heard something else? The stories get wilder and wilder. Before the week ends, someone is convinced that the person was sacrificing cats in a Satanic ritual. None of those things may even be close to the truth.
Third, those who like to talk a lot do two things. First, they interrupt and secondly, they dominate the conversation. Both of those things will get a person in trouble. When someone asks you a question, often all they need is a simple answer. A simple passage helps them. But, when we start delivering a college lecture, including the history and various other theories surrounding their question, they are likely to leave without a clue as to what we said.
Have you noticed how the Gospels do not show long conversations from Jesus? There are a few sections, such as the sermon of Matthew 5 and the prayer of John 17, but most times, it’s just a few sentences. I believe the Lord understood our passage today about many words. Don’t use a gallon when a spoonful is enough.
There is an important lesson in all of this for those who teach and preach. We can be so excited about a topic that we overkill the audience with too much information. When one talks about baptism, every verse that mentions baptism does not have to be read. Find what works best and stay with that passage. One is not converted by the volume of verses. The power is in the word, not the number of those words we use. One verse can convert as well as ten verses. An audience can be worn out because of too many words.
Solomon tells us in Ecclesiastes that there is a time to speak and a time to be silent. The problem is we don’t know what time it is. There are occasions, such as funerals and visitations, where fewer words are better. Job’s friends sat for a week and didn’t say anything. Once they started talking, transgressions came. We think that we are going to say something so profound that a hurting heart will be healed and remember our words for a lifetime. Not likely. The truth is, the hurting soul probably won’t remember that we were even there. Few words. Hugs and tears work better.
The Neon Trees have a song, “Everybody talks,” and that’s just the problem. We need some to listen.
Roger