A Moment With Pastor Fred

President Calvin Coolidge was a shy and quiet man – a man of few words. His first cabinet meeting lasted only 15 minutes. “Closed-mouth-Coolidge” rarely wasted words. Even in the  social whirl of Washington DC, Coolidge would sit silently through official dinners. Once he was approached by a lady who had waged a bet that she could get the president to say more than two words. Mr. Coolidge smiled and said, “You lose.”

Ja 1:19, “let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak.” Someone posted the following – thought it fitting to share.

Don’t open your mouth: 

• … in the heat of anger, Prov 14:17.
• … when you don’t have all the facts, Prov 18:13.
• … when you haven’t verified the story, Deut 17:6.
• … if your words will offend a weaker believer, 1 Cor 8:11.
• … if your words will be a poor reflection, 1 Pet 2:21-23.
• … when tempted to joke about sin, Prov 14:9.
• … when you’d be ashamed of your words, Prov 8:8.
• … if the issue is none of your business, Prov 14:10.
• … if your words would damage a reputation, Prov 16:27.
• … if your words would destroy a friendship, Prov 25:28.
• … when you are feeling critical, Ja 3:9.
• … when it’s time to listen, Prov 13:1.
• … when you’ve said it more than once, Prov 19:13.

When we do speak, our words are to edify and encourage. Eph 4:29, “only such [words] as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.”