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A TIME TO KEEP SILENCE "To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace." (Ecc. 3:1-8) I'd like to address Solomon's words from verse 7: "a time to keep silence." A couple chapters later he addresses this matter again when he says in Ecclesiastes 5:2, ''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." God's word says a great deal about the things that we say. James says in the third chapter of his epistle that the tongue is "a world of iniquity" and that it takes a special kind of self-discipline to bridle it. Then Jesus himself said, "every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned." (Mat. 12:36-37) Let's direct our minds for a while to Solomon's words, A TIME TO KEEP SILENCE, as I pass on to you five distinct times when keeping silence is clearly the best option . . . I. WHEN TEMPTED TO SIN WITH LIPS As you know, Job was put to the test at the hands of Satan himself. Job lost his family, his wealth, and his health, and Satan accused him and said that he would curse God to his face. Even Job's wife signed on with the devil and said, "Curse God and die." Yet, we read in Job 2:10, "In all this did not Job sin with his lips." Some seventeen centuries later, the man who wrote that the tongue is a world of iniquity also wrote of Job and commended him for his incredible patience (James 5:17). Job's wife was expecting him to curse and accuse God, yet he spoke wisdom and truth instead: "Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD." (Job 1:21) That must surely make the devil mad, but it pleases God! It pleases God to hear a blessing on our lips when most would utter a curse, and we can please God in this regard by keeping silence when tempted to sin. Yes, we all have the right of free speech, but we also have the right to remain silent, and in times of trial and temptation, that's often the best policy. Just be quiet and pray. II. WHEN THERE'S OPPORTUNITY FOR SPIRITUAL OR MENTAL GROWTH Habakkuk 2:20 says, "But the LORD is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him." Sometimes God provides us with a great opportunity for spiritual growth, but we can squander that opportunity by running our mouths and quenching the words of wisdom with our own words. When the preacher is speaking, be quiet and listen and require others to do the same. When the voice of wisdom and experience is speaking, no matter where it is or who it is, be quiet and listen. This is learning and growing time, not speaking time. We're all ignorant in different subjects, so there's a time for us all to be silent and learn. We'll never have the "sound mind" of II Timothy 1:7, if we can't manage to be quiet and exercise it regularly, and you're not likely to exercise both the mind and the mouth at the same time. That's why James 1:19 says to be quick to hear and slow to speak. The mind needs silence. After all, GOD might be trying to speak. Let's not force him to yell or to turn away. III. WHEN SOMEONE NEEDS AN EXAMPLE OF SELF CONTROL James 3:2 says, ". . . If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body." Then I can be that man. I can be that perfect man who steps up and shows others what it means to bridle my tongue and not say things that displease God. I can be the man that remains silent and thoughtful while others are complaining and sowing discord. When under pressure and temptation, I can be different. I have a right to remain silent, if only I will do it. Someone needs that example, and God can use me to give it, and God can use you to give it. IV. WHEN YOU HAVE NOTHING BENEFICIAL TO CONTRIBUTE At the Mount of Transfiguration, a very instructive thing happens. Peter should have just remained silent and observant, but he just couldn't resist running his mouth, even though the text plainly states that he didn't know WHAT to say. We read these words in Mark 9:5-6: ". . . Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. For he wist not what to say; for they were sore afraid." Then DON'T SAY ANYTHING! Why is that a crime? Why do so many people think that something must be said? I tell you, the devil doesn't sit on your shoulder whispering in your ear; he sits on your lips, insisting on having his say, and very few ever give it a thought. You don't HAVE to speak! You have the right to remain silent! Someone says, "Well, it's just too quiet!" Too quiet for what? It was quiet in the Garden of Eden until the devil showed up and started talking. Then the woman started talking. Then we all became sinners! She had nothing beneficial to contribute, so she should have kept silence. She should have moved her mind instead of her mouth, but she felt that she just had to say something, and we've been paying for it ever since. Nothing was gained by her words, and a great deal was lost, yet the door to sin might very well have remained closed, if she had kept the door of her lips closed and had not talked to the devil. If you have nothing beneficial to contribute, then just keep silent and let others speak. That's not a crime. I'm not condemning mutual fellowship and innocent small talk, but I am saying to KEEP it innocent. If your words can't abide by that standard, then keeping silent is the best policy. Satan can and will use your tongue to spread gossip, to sow discord, to challenge authority, to promote fear and doubt, to hurt someone, to waste precious time, and to quench the Holy Spirit. If you have nothing beneficial to contribute, then just keep silent. Some people speak only for the purpose of making noise, and that helps no one. V. WHEN RESPECT NEEDS TO BE SHOWN Look at the words of Elihu from Job 32:6: "And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said, I am young, and ye are very old; wherefore I was afraid, and durst not shew you mine opinion." AMEN! That's classic! His moment finally came and he spoke his words, but not before being a gentleman and showing due respect to others. Don't be one of these "Me Too!" people who can't stand seeing anyone else in the spotlight. With some folks, you might not know how their words will begin, but you know they'll end with them basking in the spotlight and stealing the attention from someone else. That sort of conduct is rude, is disrespectful, and is unbecoming of any true follower of Jesus. The first law of Christianity is self DENIAL, not self promotion and self glory. There is a time to keep silence and show respect to others, especially in the presence of wisdom, age and authority. We should always be quick to hear and slow to speak (James 1:19), and sometimes we shouldn't speak at all. God help us to remember, as pointed out in James chapter 3, the tongue can often be used of God to direct and to delight, but it can also be used of Satan to destroy. We always have the right to remain silent.