Pastor Chappell of Lancaster Baptist Church recently gave the following good counsel regarding that.
- When you want to speak before you know the whole matter He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.—Proverbs 18:13
- When you could listen and glean wisdom Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge.—Proverbs 22:17
- When you want to gossip The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.—Proverbs 26:22
- When you are angry A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.—Proverbs 15:1
- When you haven’t taken the time to listen Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words? There is more hope of a fool than of him.—Proverbs 29:20
- When you don’t have anything helpful to say He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.—Proverbs 17:27
Practice of those simple disciplines would save us and others from a lot of the repercussions and troubles our tongues are prone to produce.
-from Sunday, November 11, 2012 bulletin