Proverbs 13:3 Brinks Armored Truck Service

The one who guards his mouth preserves his life; The one who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.

Proverbs 13:3 NASB

Everything we think is not worthy to be communicated to others. The mouth provides a distinct gateway through which words, thoughts, heart, soul, and expression may pass. The guarding of that gateway with discretion, and humility, ultimately preserves life. That sounds so dramatic.

The guard

Who trains the guard to do his work? And when does speaking become dangerous? One of the challenges to the guard on sentry duty is the need to be understood. There is something so exhilarating when I feel that another understands me. Sharing my heart and thoughts with another and finding agreement. It’s only after long hours of conversation and exposure that I feel close. Friendship blooms from care and understanding of another. Yet, there is a time to speak and a time to be silent. The discretion of my “guard” is what defends me. It’s what I communicate, and how I communicate, that helps others know if I’m a safe person or not. Being quiet when I should speak, or speaking when I should be quiet are both extremes to which “guard training” must pay attention.

I feel very unqualified to know how to speak, when, how long, or how I will be perceived. Confidence can be a drug, which blinds. It’s exhilarating, and commanding, but it can work against me. Humility on the other hand puts me under others. Lower. Assuming they know more. Respects what they do know. Listening and understanding another, the situation, is more important that filling the air with words. Words count. I want to make my words count!

I am quick to speak. My guard training tells me to shorten my presentation. Make one point which the listener may take away. Communicate briefly. Let the listener respond and fill in gaps with questions. More words at the outset do not automatically make things clearer.

Paul writes to Timothy:

Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.

2 Timothy 1:14 NIV

Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge.”

1 Timothy 6:20 NIV

“Guards his mouth” is compared to “the one who opens wide his lips.” “Guard” means to watch, keep, preserve or protect. “Open wide” is used also in Ezekiel 16:23 talking about Israel as a harlot “spreading wide” her legs to every one passing by. The usage gives a negative sense of being dirty, licentious, manipulative, and compromised. What a contrast! One is focused on my well-being, the other exposes me all sorts of unknown trouble, injury or even infection — ultimately leading to death. The picture seems clear, what I choose to do with the gate of my heart determines my well-being.

Watch over (guard) your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life.

Proverbs 4:23