I often suffer from the disease of "diarrhea of the mouth" - continuous babbling when I should be quiet. And nothing good ever comes from it. Solomon tells us above that it is a direct reflection on lack of knowledge. And he is right, again. Likewise, James gives us excellent advise in James 1:19 - Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.
When I stop talking and listen, I learn much, much more. If it is someone that I have just met, I gain a deeper understanding of the individual. If it is a loved one, I will actually understand their feelings and emotions. When I don't keep my mouth shut, I often go off on a half-cocked decision based upon minimal knowledge of the situation. And you can guess the results!
Isn't the same true with our relationship with Christ? I catch myself babbling about my needs or wants, what I think He needs to do for others and what I need to improve in my life. If I would just stop talking and listen, I would hear what He wants me to do. Why don't we pause in our babbling today and listen closely to God's words - the results will astound us! Only when we are listening, can we truly say "speak, for thy servant heareth" (1 Sam 3:10).
