Don't talk so much!

Why do you talk so much when you know so little?
Job‬ ‭38:2‬ ‭CEV‬‬

The question above is not a rhetorical one, but a direct challenge from God to Job, a righteous man who suffered greatly and complained about his fate.

In the book of Job, chapter 38, God speaks to Job from out of a storm and confronts him with a series of questions that reveal his ignorance and insignificance in comparison to the Creator of the universe¹.

God asks Job if he knows how the earth was founded, how the sun rises, how the stars are arranged, how the weather works, how the animals live, and many other mysteries of nature that are beyond human understanding.

God's purpose is not to humiliate Job, but to remind him of his limited perspective and his need to trust in God's wisdom and justice.

The question that God poses to Job can also be applied to ourselves.

• Why do we talk so much when we know so little?
• Why do we presume to have the answers to everything, when we are often ignorant of the facts, the context, the motives, and the consequences of our words?
• Why do we judge others harshly, when we are flawed and sinful ourselves?
• Why do we argue and quarrel, when we could listen and learn?

There are many possible reasons why we talk so much when we know so little. Some of them are:

- We are insecure and want to impress others with our knowledge or opinions.
- We are proud and think that we are always right or superior to others.
- We are angry and want to vent our emotions or hurt others with our words.
- We are bored and want to fill the silence or distract ourselves from our problems.
- We are curious and want to explore new ideas or perspectives.

None of these reasons are necessarily bad in themselves, but they can become harmful if we do not balance them with humility, respect, and love.

Talking too much can lead to arrogance, conflict, gossip, slander, and lies. It can also prevent us from listening to God, who speaks to us through his word, his creation, his people, and his Spirit.

The Bible warns us about the dangers of talking too much and the benefits of being silent.

Proverbs 10:19 says, "Too much talk leads to sin. Be sensible and keep your mouth shut."

Proverbs 17:28 says, "Even fools are thought wise when they keep silent; with their mouths shut, they seem intelligent."

James 1:19 says, "You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry."

Ecclesiastes 3:7 says, "There is a time to be silent and a time to speak."

Therefore, we should be careful about what we say and how we say it.

We should not talk too much when we know so little, but rather seek to learn more from God and others.

We should not talk to show off, to criticize, to hurt, or to deceive, but rather to edify, to encourage, to heal, and to speak the truth in love.

We should not talk without listening, but rather listen before we speak and be open to correction and feedback.

We should not talk out of our own wisdom, but rather acknowledge our dependence on God and his grace.

In conclusion, the question that God asked Job is a relevant and challenging one for us today.

Why do we talk so much when we know so little?

The answer is not simple, but it requires us to examine our hearts, our motives, and our words.

It also invites us to trust in God, who knows everything and who speaks to us with love and power.

As Psalm 46:10 says, "Be still, and know that I am God!"

Prayer:

Lord, you are the Almighty God, who created the heavens and the earth, and everything in them.

You are the source of all wisdom and knowledge, and you know everything that is hidden from us.

Forgive us, Lord, for talking too much when we know so little.

Forgive us for being proud, angry, insecure, or bored, and for using our words in ways that do not honor you or bless others.

Help us, Lord, to be humble, respectful, and loving, and to use our words in ways that glorify you and edify others.

Help us, Lord, to be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.

Help us, Lord, to be still, and know that you are God.

Amen.
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