Silence is Golden
"A time to keep silence, and a time to speak"
, by Emmanuel Higgins
To speak, or not to speak. That is the great question! When is the right time to keep silent? How does the Bible answer this question?
There's a very interesting verse I read recently in Proverbs chapter 17, verses 27-28. Where the Bible tells us:
"He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit. Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding."
There're some very practical lessons we can learn from these verses.
Imagine you're in a group of young people. Someone starts talking about the latest technological advance. A lively discussion soon develops and almost everybody is speaking up, each trying to get their own opinion heard. But there's one person present, who, instead of trying to speak up and voice his own opinion, is holding his peace, and quietly listening to what others have to say before speaking a word.
Who would you say is the wisest in this group? The ones who were speaking up trying to get everybody to listen to them, or the one who was quietly holding his peace and listening. Of course, we would say it was the one who was listening quietly and waiting until he had something of value to say. As we have just read, "He that hath knowledge spareth his words" and "he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding".
It's very true, when we hold our peace and, at the right times, keep silent, people consider us wise.
There's another valuable lesson we can gain. Think about your words and the impact they might have on those listening to you. And then consider, if what I have to say is negative, how is it going to effect the listener? Will it encourage them? Will it help them in their Christian experience? Or is what you're about to say going to impact them negatively?
Too often we don't think about the words we speak. But it's time we stop, and seriously consider our words. Remember, we're in a great battle between good and evil, between Christ and Satan, every word we speak is either going to have an influence on one side of the battle or the other.
If you're tempted to say something that isn't going to have a good influence, stop, and remember that this is a time to keep silence, this is a time to hold your peace. Here, silence is eloquence.
The Bible says that there is "A time to keep silence, and a time to speak" - Ecclesiastes 3:7.
If you're not sure when to keep silent and when to speak, pray to our all wise and loving Father in heaven. Ask Him for wisdom to speak the right words at the right time to encourage those you're speaking to.
Remember how beautiful a good word is:
A word fitly spoken [is like] apples of gold in pictures of silver. Proverbs 25:11
Let's choose to watch our words that we may be counted as wise, and may be able to speak uplifting words to our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.
" When we can associate together to help one another heavenward, when the conversation is upon divine and heavenly things, then it amounts to something to talk; but when the conversation centers upon self and upon earthly and unimportant matters, silence is golden." - Sons and Daughters of God, by Ellen G. White p. 166
22 Comment(s)
Great quote. Great author.
We should SPEAK up if there is injustice on any level
Thank you for this scripture it helped me A lot. God ? Bless
God bless you for sharing such a wonderful inspiration about silence.i love the conclusion part with the quote from Ellen White.God bless you
This is owe some n inspiring
A person not knowing how to be in a group conversations discussion tends to show he\she knows everything, but in true sense he\she knows nothing..wise just sit and listens carefully and speak when opportunity comes.
Am a prayer group admin and would to receive more words of knowledge from you to encourage my other group member that partcipation is not about arguing but learning and empowering each other in God's words of prophecy.Amen
Very inspiring
perfect and motivating.
perfect and motivating.
Am so blessed in christ to know what time to speak and not to speak, in order to keep a healthy relationship with our loving father through jesus christ. thank you!
God chosen children never be left alone,we will be gaurded by his precious blood.AMEN....
I am so blessed by this teaching... I will need to share them with others but most especially, I have to practice it.
MOTIVATING
I thank God for your encouraging studys. It has blessed so that I pay more attention to what I say and how I say it. Thanks, God bless you
This study really blessed my soul, I thank God for my sisters and brothers in christ jesus. Please keep up the good work, and continue to be an encouragement for those who are in need. I really appreciate you and thank you for this wonder study:)
This has renewed my purpose to weed out idle words from my conversation, and have my conversation \"in heaven\" - thank God for yet another reminder!
We touched on this subject tonight in worship. Praise God!
Yes, it would be more of a challenge living at an Academy. But praise God for His help! and for the blessings He gives us as we surrender our all to Him.
Thank you for this Gem. This is very important for me, being that I live at an Academy.
Oh indeed, words of wisdom spoken here Emmanuel. By God\'s grace we can all be empowered to live out this counsel spoken by God Himself. Oh, for that grace so that I will not dishonour my Lord!
Amen! Praise God for His truth. I haven\'t always obeyed it, even in recent times, to my shame, but God is faithful, and He will have a people who are strong in God, and not affected by the way others treat them.
Great peace have they which love thy law, and nothing shall offend them. May this be all of our experience, by the blood and resurrection of Christ.