Is it a sin to talk too much? Well, that depends. When we read the
warnings in Scripture concerning the power of words we may be tempted to
stop talking all together! However, we quickly realize this is not the
answer. That would be too easy. The right response is the hard road of
self-discipline and love. The hard road is the application of wisdom in
the restraint of the most powerful muscle in our body. That got me
thinking about the dangers of talking too much. There are many and
include the following 8 warnings.
1. Excessive talk may open the door to sin. “In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is wise” (Proverbs 10:19).
“Whoever guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from troubles”
(21:23). “He who guards his mouth preserves his life, but he who opens
wide his lips shall have destruction” (13:3). These verses seem to say
the more you talk, the more you will sin. The reason for this is found
in the sobering truth of James 3:8:
“But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly
poison.” We must discipline ourselves to refrain from speaking when it
is not necessary. This is one mark of wisdom. “He who has knowledge
spares his words, and a man of understanding is of a calm spirit. Even a
fool is counted wise when he holds his peace; when he shuts his lips,
he is considered perceptive” (17:27, 28).
2. Excessive talk may fuel gossip. Webster’s Dictionary defines
a gossip as, “a person who chatters or repeats idle talk and rumors.”
Idle talk and rumors define the content of gossip. However, it is
important to realize that the accuracy of the information being
chattered about is not the issue. It could be true or false. The issue
is there are some things that simply don’t need to be, and should not
be, repeated because the negative effects of gossip are
numerous. It destroys friendships: “He who covers a transgression seeks
love, but he who repeats a matter separates friends” (Proverbs 17:9). It causes strife: “Where there is no wood, the fire goes out; and where there is no talebearer, strife ceases” (Proverbs 26:20).
It leads to the betrayal of confidences: “He who goes about as a
slanderer reveals secrets, therefore do not associate with a gossip” (Proverbs 20:19 NASB). It hurts others deeply: “The words of a talebearer are like tasty trifles, and they go down into the inmost body” (Proverbs 18:8). The Puritan, Thomas Watson,
said: “The scorpion carries its poison in its tail, the slanderer in
his tongue. His words pierce deep like the quills of the porcupine.” Continue at
