³⁴ You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. (Matthew 12:34 ESV)

My father used to say, “be quick to listen, slow to speak.” I think there is a lot of wisdom in this. I have not always practiced it, but I do try very hard to do so. I can say, that when I do, I learn far more and can respond with greater insight and therefore be of greater value.

The other problem with being quick to speak is the possibility that we are just wanting to be heard. Hasty words can come from an abundance of ignorance or a place of pride. This is worth pondering, as our scripture says, “for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” We want that abundance to be of some value and not just the feeling we need to sprinkle our own pride into a situation.

Reflect on: Are the words coming out of your mouth driven from a godly desire to help, or from vein pride?