Joe Jones: "You Talk Too Much"

This is one song I can easily relate to. My brother, Roy, has a bad habit of latching onto people and talking their ears off. I'm sure we all have had somebody like that. They never seem to be able to converse normally.

Listen to this novelty song by Joe Jones here:

Holy Scripture has much to say about talking too much. James 1:19 and 20 (Bible in Basic English) reads, "You have knowledge of this, dear brothers. But let every man be quick in hearing, slow in words, slow to get angry; For the righteousness of God does not come about by the wrath of man."

Solomon also had plenty of excellent advice about those who talk more than they should. One excellent verse is Proverbs 10:19 (Bible in Basic English). "Where there is much talk there will be no end to sin, but he who keeps his mouth shut does wisely."

Keeping silent can also save one's life. Proverbs 13:3 (BBE) says, "He who keeps a watch on his mouth keeps his life; but he whose lips are open wide will have destruction."

Nothing gets done when people only talk about their plans. Proverbs 14:23 (BBE) reminds us that, "In all hard work there is profit, but talk only makes a man poor."

And Proverbs 17:28 (BBE) shows us that we can't judge somebody's intelligence if they keep quiet. "Even the foolish man, when he keeps quiet, is taken to be wise: when his lips are shut he is credited with good sense."

Wise folks also avoid tail bearers and gossips. Proverbs 20:19 (BBE) advises, "He who goes about talking of the business of others gives away secrets: so have nothing to do with him whose lips are open wide."

Finally, here's a wonderful bit of advice from Proverbs 27:2 (BBE). "Let another man give you praise, and not your mouth; one who is strange to you, and not your lips."

Because we don't know what tomorrow will bring, I say that if Christ doesn't return by Thursday, I hope to post about the kind of dying all Christians must do.

Men At Work, "Who Could It Be Now"

 I sure relate to this song. Some folks I've known never seem to understand that people sometimes need privacy and don't often want to chatter late into the night. I've had to be rude to them just to get it through their thick skulls that I wanted privacy.

check out this great song here:

A common proverb people use is "familiarity breeds contempt." In fact, I've even been guilty of doing what Proverbs 25:17 (Bible in Basic English) warns against. "Let not your foot be frequently in your neighbour's house, or he may get tired of you, and his feeling be turned to hate."

Another kind of speech which is no good, and I've been guilty of it as well, is mentioned in Proverbs 14:23 (BBE). "In all hard work there is profit, but talk only makes a man poor."

Likewise, I've had my moments of foolish talk. Unlike some people I know, I did learn from my folly. Ecclesiastes 10:12-14 (BBE) admonishes, "The words of a wise man's mouth are sweet to all, but the lips of a foolish man are his destruction. The first words of his mouth are foolish, and the end of his talk is evil crime. The foolish are full of words; man has no knowledge of what will be; and who is able to say what will be after him?"

Furthermore, I struggle with the error of speaking first before I've heard both sides of an argument. Talkative people tend to do this often as well. As James 1:19 and 20 (BBE) reminds us, "You have knowledge of this, dear brothers. But let every man be quick in hearing, slow in words, slow to get angry; For the righteousness of God does not come about by the wrath of man."

And while we should speak out against injustice, a time comes when we must butt out of arguments which don't concern us. As Paul wrote to the congregation in 1 Thessalonians 4:10-12  (BBE), "And, truly, you are lovers of all the brothers in Macedonia; but it is our desire that your love may be increased still more; And that you may take pride in being quiet and doing your business, working with your hands as we gave you orders; That you may be respected by those who are outside, and may have need of nothing."

We also need to have a solitary time each day when we talk with God. As Jesus taught in Matthew 6:5 and 6 (BBE), "And when you make your prayers, be not like the false-hearted men, who take pleasure in getting up and saying their prayers in the Synagogues and at the street turnings so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, They have their reward. But when you make your prayer, go into your private room, and, shutting the door, say a prayer to your Father in secret, and your Father, who sees in secret, will give you your reward."

If the Lord doesn't return by Monday, I hope to post about heaven and the weird ideas people have about it.

Saturday Song: The 49th Parallel, "Labourer"

I must admit that for most folks, work is a four-letter word. It takes a huge slice out of our day but without it we'd starve. Even so, is work really a curse or a blessing?

A Canadian band called The 49th Parallel sang about how the rich envy the simple life of a worker in their song "Labourer."

Listen to it here:

Before the fall, God gave Adam a job. Genesis 2:15 (BBE) tells us, "And the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to do work in it and take care of it."

In the next chapter, we read of the fall and how God cursed the land, making working it hard. Genesis 3:17 (BBE) tells us how it happened. "And to Adam he said, 'Because you gave ear to the voice of your wife and took of the fruit of the tree which I said you were not to take, the earth is cursed on your account; in pain you will get your food from it all your life."

Though this is so, the Bible has much to say about the good aspects of work. First, it should satisfy our basic needs. Psalms 28:2 )BBE) reads, "You will have the fruit of the work of your hands: happy will you be, and all will be well for you."

Secondly, there is nothing wrong in profit if it's earned legally. Proverbs 14:23 (BBE) reminds us, "In all hard work there is profit, but talk only makes a man poor."

We also see that the Father has given us work which can emotionally satisfy us. Ecclesiastes 2:24 (BBE) says, "There is nothing better for a man than taking meat and drink, and having delight in his work. This again I saw was from the hand of God."

When we have enough and to spare, we can help our siblings in Christ who lack basic sustenance. Hebrews 6:10 (BBE) declares, "For God is true, and will not put away from him the memory of your work and of your love for his name, in the help which you gave and still give to the saints."

Though we might not enjoy getting up early and toiling all day, work is a way to help out others and ourselves.

On Monday, I'll post about why God used metaphors.