“In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.” Proverbs 10:19
The technology of our day has increased our ability to communicate to such a level that as a society we have nearly instant access to each other. Yet, despite the advancements of technology, our ability to communicate with each other without creating miscommunications, conflict, and gossip does not seem to have improved. I have noticed that the more I talk, the less I seem to deliver any words of substance. It is almost like I’m subconsciously talking just to hear my own voice. Talking without purpose is a dangerous habit. But when there is silence around other people, I struggle to stop myself from needing to fill the silence. Almost without fail, instead of saying something profound, the air gets filled with mindless dribble. Frustrated with myself, I walk away from the monologue telling myself to be quiet, only to find myself doing it again, and again, and again. Sometimes people ask where the harm is found in chatting just to chat, and talking just to talk, without a clear purpose. The Bible is very clear about excessive communication: it will lead to sin. Inevitably, when we are talking without a purpose for our words, we will find ourselves wandering into gossip and into sharing confidences. Proverbs 11:13 warns against this behavior: “A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.” We should be striving to be a person who can be trusted with information, who keeps confidences, who doesn’t air other people’s dirty laundry to anyone who will listen.
The day will come, when we fill answer to God for our actions on this earth. When that day comes, we will answer for not only the decisions we have made, to accept Christ as our Savior, to live for Him and love Him, to love others, and for every word we uttered for our entire lives. What a sobering thought! Matthew 12:36 says, “But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.”
The conclusion of the matter is simple: it is rarely a sin to stay silent
