Day 67, Year 1 Speaking with Caution

“A fool’s mouth is his ruin, And his lips are the snare of his soul.” (Proverbs 18:7 NASB)

People need to be cautious in their speech to break away from foolishness. The following are several aspects worth paying attention to.

First, do not curse yourself. The fools often curse themselves when facing failures or misfortunes. This tendency aligns with the malice of Satan’s curses most of the time. Believers should develop the habit of self-reflection and seeking improvement when facing problems, thus replacing all curses from this foolishness with the blessings of the Lord Jesus.

Second, do not judge others, as the words for judging others would ultimately come back on us and cause self-destruction. The fools are accustomed to condemning others’ sins as a substitute for dealing with their own. But this habit often causes their ruin because, according to the Scripture, it is indirectly the cause for condemning and convicting themselves.

Third, do not carelessly make promises that subsequently bring difficulties to oneself. If people recklessly make promises beyond their abilities without considering the consequences, they will lose credibility. Conversely, if we make promises according to the clear guidance of Jesus, even if the outcomes might have twists and turns, the final result will still be good.

Fourth, do not disregard the faults in your speech. Fools often think they can speak carelessly, because they mistakenly believe their words are unfounded or do not see immediate consequences, so they indulge their mouths and pour out evil. However, Jesus once mentioned that people would be judged by their own idle or empty words on the day of judgment (Matthew 12:36-37). Therefore, we have to be very careful in our speeches.

When people become the outlet for sin or the evil one, they inevitably fall under the oppression and bondage of the devil, as “he who sins is of the devil” (1 John 3:8a NKJV). Many who refuse to believe in Jesus radically, instead pursue so-called “freedom” fail to see this clearly. Similarly, most of the foolish denials of God would manifest in our words and actions. We could pay attention to those foolishness and corruption and deal with them one by one. We can ask God to forgive the sins we have committed out of our ignorance, seek the Cross to eradicate all the fruits of our sins, and ask for His wisdom to avoid making further mistakes. When unsure whether to speak certain words, we should first pray and seek the Lord’s guidance, as this often brings His peace or doubt, leading us to make the right decisions and speak cautiously.

Reflection questions:

1) Has your speech ever brought you trouble or bondage? If so, are you willing to cling to Jesus to solve this?

2) In your opinion, what does it mean to speak with caution?