Have you ever had something you were BURSTING to say? It happens during deep conversations with friends, or perhaps during a Bible study when something suddenly makes sense and you just HAVE to share. Job’s friend Elihu knew that feeling:
That is so familiar to me. This could be my “LIFE VERSE.” I was always “full of words,” and “about to burst.”
But Elihu is not the “Motormouth Kid.” He is a grown man, a man of wisdom. In fact, he may be the only man in the book who speaks the truth about God.
Not only that, when Job’s friends arrived, they sat down and said NOTHING for seven days. SEVEN DAYS! Can you imagine that? And then Job’s three older friends did all the talking. Elihu may have arrived after the other three (it does not say), but either way, he was silent for a long time while Job and the other seniors argued whether Job was being punished for his sins. Elihu listened to nine speeches from Job’s friends, and eight response speeches from Job, and said NOTHING until chapter 32.
The younger man EARNED the right to be heard. We must do the same. We must listen not only to our elders, but to anyone whose experience or wisdom exceeds our own. Train yourself to be a good listener. “Let every man be QUICK TO HEAR, slow to speak, and slow to become angry” James 1:19.
“If anyone considers himself religious, yet does not control his tongue, he deceives his own heart. That person’s religion is worthless” James 1:26.
Do you control your tongue? Do I? If not, James says our religion—our FAITH—is worthless.
God, teach us to control our tongues. Teach us to SHUT UP.
ΑΩ
Household Words: 