One of the best ways to keep yourself pure (1 Tim. 5:22) and to guard your heart (Prov. 4:23) is to be slow to speak. Being slow to speak is an important spiritual safeguard and takes self control. James said this about being slow to speak:
My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry (James 1:19)
Sinning with words is very common and must be guarded against. Job, who feared the LORD and shunned evil (Job 1:8), knew about the danger of words. He was very guarded with his words so he wouldn’t sin:
As long as I have life within me, the breath of God in my nostrils, my lips will not speak wickedness, and my tongue will utter no deceit. (Job 27:3,4)
Job had Godly determination, knew the power in words and how a person can sin in that manner! People who fear the Lord in our day are careful with their words too! Jesus said:
But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned. (Mat 12:36,37)
YOUR WORDS will make the difference for you! If you aren’t slow to speak, you will probably be speaking the wrong words! If you aren’t yet convinced about being slow to speak, perhaps this fact will help:
He who guards his lips guards his life, but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin. (Prov 13:3)
To speak rashly will bring you to ruin, just it has many others! It won’t be different for you. Control your tongue and you’ll control your life’s direction. The tongue is likened to a rudder on a big ship (James 3:4) steering it around. James also stated :
If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. (James 1:26)
We must keep a tight rein on our tongue. According to that verse it is VITAL! Your Christian “religion” is worthless, if you aren’t! Hence, you must be slow to speak. So, are you keeping a tight rein of your tongue?
Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. (James 3:5,6)
Christians are to be sin conscious and being slow to speak is important:
When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise. (Prov 10:19)
You are battling for eternity. Be slow to speak!
