How can Job 15:6 guide us in seeking wisdom before speaking? The Verse at a Glance Job 15:6 — “Your own mouth condemns you, not mine; your own lips testify against you.” What This Tells Us About Speech • Words reveal the heart; they expose motives, attitudes, and hidden sin. • Once spoken, they stand as evidence—either for or against us. • The speaker, not the hearer, bears primary responsibility for the effect of those words. Biblical Principles for Seeking Wisdom Before Speaking • Self-examination must precede speech (Psalm 139:23-24). • Silence often protects from sin (Proverbs 10:19). • Truth should be joined with grace (Ephesians 4:29). • Accountability to God for every word remains certain (Matthew 12:36-37). Practical Steps to Guard the Tongue 1. Pause and Pray • Invite the Lord to sift motives. • Ask for discernment so that speech builds up, not tears down. 2. Filter Through Scripture • Compare intended words with biblical standards of love, purity, and truth (Philippians 4:8). • Reject anything that contradicts clear teaching. 3. Consider Consequences • Visualize how the words will sound when replayed before God (2 Corinthians 5:10). • Remember Job 15:6: words can become self-condemning testimony. 4. Speak Fewer, Stronger Words • “He who restrains his lips is wise” (Proverbs 10:19). • Brevity limits the risk of careless talk. 5. Maintain Humility • Recognize limited understanding (Proverbs 3:5). • Stay teachable, ready to correct or retract rash statements. Complementary Scriptures • Proverbs 13:3 — “He who guards his mouth preserves his life, but the one who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.” • James 1:19 — “Everyone must be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger.” • Ecclesiastes 5:2 — “Do not be quick with your mouth or impulsive in your heart to bring a matter before God.” • Colossians 4:6 — “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” Living This Out Today • Guard daily conversations, social media posts, and private comments with the same seriousness Scripture assigns to every utterance. • Replace reflexive responses with thoughtful, Spirit-led speech. • Let each word serve as an ambassador for Christ’s wisdom, ensuring no statement ever becomes evidence against a faithful witness. |
    |