Do not be rash with your mouth, and let not your heart utter anything hastily before God. For God is in heaven, and you on earth; therefore let your words be few. Ecclesiastes 5:2

Words and promises are easy to speak for most people. It is common for a person to suddenly speak something without really considering what is being said. The wrong words of often spoken when it is spoken quickly and without any real thought. Words spoken quickly will often get a person into trouble or some very difficult situation in which there is no way out.

Solomon says that one should not be rash with speaking or quickly say something before God. Since God is in heaven and people are on earth, there should be few words spoken.

During a difficult time, it is easy for one to speak quickly. Words are spoken out of fear, anger, frustration, and desperation. They are spoken to attempt to get through the difficulty. Sometimes they are spoken quickly to justify wrongs done or to get vengeance for wrongs done.

This can be seen by many who cry out to God and make quick promises and vows to God if He would just help them through a difficult time. People will promise to not do something ever again, or to do some ministry, or to pray more, or to read the bible more, or something else, just to try and bribe God into helping them.

Instead of speaking quickly and with many words, believers are to speak slowly and with just a few words. God understands the words and heart of a person more than even the person understands them. Babbling on will not change God’s heart or direction. Slowing down and trusting God will move God’s heart.

Whether you are a person who likes to speak a lot or just a little, there will be times when you are tempted to speak a lot and quickly when going to God about a situation. Take time to be still and know that He is God and that He is in control. Allow God to be God in your life. Pray and let God know your situation, but do not continue to keep babbling with many words or sudden promises. Do not allow yourself to be trapped by your words, but live in peace with God and man, and speak slowly.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that God will help you speak slowly and wisely; that you will trust God in every situation; that you will not make rash vows before God; and that you will see God work in your life in every difficulty.

This is an updated edition of a post originally published on Insights from Tom

Featured Image by David Porter from Pixabay

About the Author

Tom Arn is happily married for 30 years to his wonderful wife Cammie. They are blessed by God with eight wonderful children and one grandchild. Tom has worked as a children’s pastor, senior pastor, and many times (and currently) as a Sunday School Teacher. He has a General Ministries degree with a Bible College. He started doing a short devotional type Bible study on Facebook in 2014, going through the books of the Bible chapter by chapter, section by section. Tom writes what he feels God is placing on his heart.

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