When to Remain SILENT… The Golden Rule

?And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. Luke 6:31

How many of you have heard of THE GOLDEN RULE?  Did you know that it gets it meaning from the Bible?  Basically, THE GOLDEN RULE is doing unto others the way you would like them to treat you.

Sadly, we often do not offer mercy and grace to one another and yet get upset or emotional if someone entreats us without it.  In a way, we demand that another treat us better than we treat them.  Jesus spoke much about laying our lives down for one another.  Today we are going to go over what it means to lay your mouth down for another…

WHEN TO BE SILENT

~According to the Scriptures~

• In the heat of anger

He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly: and a man of wicked devices is hated. Proverbs 14:17

• When you do not know the full story or have all the facts

He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him. Proverbs 13:13

• When the story has not been verified or is gossip in nature

At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is worthy of death be put to death; but at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death. Deuteronomy 17:6

• If your words will offend or hurt a weaker person

And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? 1 Corinthians 8:11

• When it is more fruitful to listen

A wise son heareth his father’s instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke. Proverbs 13:1

• When being tempted to make light of Holy things.

Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few. Ecclesiastes 5:2

• When you are tempted to joke about sinful things or come into agreement with someone’s sinful ways

Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favour. Proverbs 14:9

• If you will be ashamed of your words later or are tempted to react out of the flesh versus responding via the Holy Spirit.

All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them. Proverbs 8:8

• If what you are saying elevates self in any way, particularly at the expense of another

Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. Proverbs 16:18

• If your words are designed to give a faulty impression or to make yourself look wise

He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit. Proverbs 17:27

• If the issue being discussed is none of your business

The heart knoweth his own bitterness; and a stranger doth not intermeddle with his joy. Proverbs 14:10

• When you are tempted to lie, accuse, swear, edify evil or fear or simply speak of anything unholy

Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee. Proverbs 4:24

• If your words will damage the reputation of another person – seeking to get the dirt on someone

[Casting verbal stones/spreading lies]

An ungodly man diggeth up evil: and in his lips there is as a burning fire. Proverbs 16:27

• If your words will damage a friendship or hurt your brother or sister in the Lord

A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends. Proverbs 16:28

• If you are feeling critical about someone or something

Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. James 3:9

• If what you are saying must be in the form of yelling to get your point across

He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls. Proverbs 25:28

• If the words you are about to speak will be a poor reflection of the Lord coming out of His vessel

^{I Peter 2:21} For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

²² Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:

²³ Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:

• If you may have to eat your words later because you were wrong, you judged before the time or were critical of another person

Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. Proverbs 18:21

• If you have already said it more than one time

A foolish son is the calamity of his father: and the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping. Proverbs 19:13

• When you are tempted to flatter a wicked person or their actions

He that saith unto the wicked, Thou are righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him. Proverbs 24:24

• When you are supposed to be about your Father’s business instead

In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury [lack]. Proverbs 14:23

So basically we just went over several different ways in which we are to walk according to the Holy Spirit in our speech.  Each day the Lord is drawing us closer and closer to Him as He is teaching us His ways.  When we guard our mouths we keep ourselves from trouble – Proverbs 21:23.

We are the children of a most Holy Father, Who is sovereign in every circumstance all the time.  The truth is in most cases we do not need to intervene, as He is already doing so.

Who ever knew it would be so difficult to simply ~

Be still and KNOW, He is God.  Psalms 46:10

In His Love,

?Angela ~ Marked By Heaven