He who guards his mouth and his tongue
keeps himself from calamity.
—Proverbs 21:23
William Barclay wrote: “We owe a very great deal to the fact that Peter had a quick tongue. Again and again Peter rushed into speech, and his impetuosity drew teaching which is immortal.”
Here’s an example . . .
On the mountain of transfiguration, Peter didn’t know what to say (Mk 9:6), but said something anyway: “Rabbi . . . Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” Wham! Moses and Elijah disappeared; only Jesus remained—and God rapped Peter’s knuckles, saying, “This is my Son . . . Listen to him!”
Here’s a lesson I need to learn: I should avoid saying something unless I have something worthwhile to say. The more I talk, the more likely I am to say something foolish.
Some things are better left unsaid;
something I usually realize right after I’ve said it.