Former
US President Harry Truman had a rule: Any letters written in anger had to sit
on his desk for 24 hours before they could be mailed. If at the end of that
“cooling off” period, he still felt the same sentiments, he would send the
letter. By the end of his life, Truman’s unmailed letters filled a large desk
drawer.
How
often in this age of immediate communication would even 24 minutes of wise
restraint spare us embarrassment! In his epistle, James addressed a universal
theme in human history when he wrote about the damage an uncontrolled tongue
can bring. “No man can tame the tongue,” he wrote. “It is an unruly evil, full
of deadly poison” (3:8).
When
we’re gossiping or speaking in anger, we find ourselves outside the lines of
what God desires. Our tongues, our pens, and even our keyboards should more often
fall silent with thanks in our hearts for the restraint God provides. All too
often, when we speak we remind everyone of our brokenness as human beings.
When we want to surprise others with the difference Christ makes, we may need to look no further than restraining our tongue. Others can’t help but notice when we honor God with what we say—or don’t say.
Whoever guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from troubles. Proverbs 21:23 (RBC)
