MY UNDOING -- Devotional for July 18, from "Good Seeds"

To quarrel is foolish; a man with good sense holds his tongue. Some people like to make cutting remarks, but the words of the wise soothe and heal. Self-control means controlling the tongue. A quick retort can ruin everything. A soft answer turns away wrath, but harsh words cause quarrels. Gentle words cause life and health; griping brings discouragement. A good man thinks before he speaks; the evil man pours out his evil words without a thought. The man of few words and settled mind is wise; therefore, even a fool is thought to be wise when he is silent. It pays him to keep his mouth shut. A fool gets into constant fights. His mouth is his undoing! His words endanger him. Those who love to talk will suffer the consequences. Men have died for saying the wrong thing! A wise man restrains his anger and overlooks insults. This is to his credit. Keep your mouth closed and you’ll stay out of trouble. Don’t be hot-headed and rush to judgment; you may start something you can’t finish and go down before your neighbor in shameful defeat. So discuss the matter with him privately. Don’t tell anyone else, lest he accuse you of slander and you can’t withdraw what you said. Be patient and you will finally win, for a soft tongue can break hard bones. A rebel shouts in anger; a wise man holds his temper in and cools it. (Proverbs 11:12; 12:18; 13:3; 15:1,4,28; 17:27-28; 18:6,7,21; 19:11; 21:23; 25:8-10,15; 29:11)

When Solomon was inaugurated as the new young king of Israel he turned to God in prayer. He could have asked for long life, or riches, or power over his enemies that would bring him great popularity and fame. But he asked for something else instead: “Lord, that Thy servant may have an understanding heart, to judge Thy people in discerning between good and evil” (I Kings 3:7-9). It pleased the Lord mightily that Solomon had asked for wisdom, and nothing else, so much so that not only did He grant Solomon’s wish, but also granted him the things he very well could have asked for, but did not: riches and honor. His was a peaceful reign, giving him time and opportunity to develop and practice his gift of wisdom, and to write it down for others. As I meditate on his book of wise sayings, the Proverbs, I come across one theme more than any other: the wise use of the tongue. As I meditate on this theme from the Proverbs I’m reminded how often I stand in violation of the rules of engagement regarding my words to others. As I echo Isaiah’s lament, “Woe is me, for I am undone, for I am a man of unclean lips” (Is. 6:5), may I also receive the cleansing of those lips following sincere repentance.