Foot In Mouth Disease

We all suffer from the same disease. It's called "Put Your Foot In Your Mouth" Syndrome. Every person probably does suffer from it at least once every day. You remember, you said something you didn't want someone else to hear, or spoke out of turn about something you had no knowledge of. Or maybe you said something to someone that you regret and wonder if they will ever forgive you.

I remember a particularly tough situation that I had to handle as a pastor. It was a very difficult decision I had to make and it hurt me very deeply because I loved the family involved. There was a 50/50 chance that I would lose my friendship with the family if I acted, but according to our guidelines and by-laws I had to progress forward. I did as the Bible says and tried to settle the dispute by the Word, but an unattached party got wind off it and made a mountain out of a molehill. I saved one family, but the one that put their foot in their mouth found out they had caused the damage by misspoken words, they were so embarrassed they themselves left the church. How many pastors have faced that same scenario over and over again because some says something out of turn?

I was watching a very close football game last year, and you could tell the players nerves were on edge. The home team had been the victim of three or four close calls, and they were now trailing the visitors by a touchdown and a field goal. When the official called yet another close one in the visitors' favor, the home quarterback blew his top. It was later reported he said some things he shouldn't have to the head referee. Don't worry, I've cleaned it up, but it went something like this:

 "How many times can you do this to us in a single game?" he screamed. "You were wrong on the out-of-bounds call, you were wrong on that last holding call, and you failed to say anything about a late hit in the first quarter." The ref just stared.  The quarterback got angrier, but he tried to suppress language that might get him tossed out of the game.  "What it comes down to," he yelled, "is that you stink!" The official stared a few more seconds.  Then he bent down, picked up the ball, paced off 15 yards, and put the ball down. He turned to face the steaming quarterback. "And how do I smell from here?" he asked.

There are so many times when it is hard to "bite the tongue" and say nothing.  The urge to say "something" seems so overpowering that the words sometimes erupt before we have a chance to think them through. Unfortunately, those words have consequences.  The minor offenses result in 15-yard penalties.  The more serious offenses result in years of regret and heartache, or perhaps broken relationships that take years to rebuild. No wonder James had such strong words of praise concerning the person who is always able to control what he says in James 3:2.

Proverbs 17:27, 28 declare these words:

"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."

May our words today be few, calm, and carefully thought out.