A preacher, a politician and an engineer were led to the guillotine. The preacher was asked if he wanted to be face up or face down when he met his fate. The preacher said that he would like to lie face up so he would be looking toward heaven when he died. The blade of the guillotine was raised and released. It came speeding down and suddenly stopped, just inches from his neck. The authorities took this as divine intervention and released the preacher.

Next, the politician came to the guillotine, and he also decided to die facing up, hoping he would be as fortunate as the preacher. So the blade of the guillotine was raised again and released. It came speeding down and suddenly stopped just inches from his neck, so he was released as well.

The engineer was next, and he too decided to die facing up. The executioner slowly raised the blade of the guillotine, when suddenly the engineer said, "Hey, I see what the problem is ..."

Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace!

Another reminder that we need to learn when to keep our mouths shut. As much as we may be anxious to share with people just how much we know, sometimes things are better left unsaid! Rarely will keeping quiet get us into trouble (though it can happen), but often do we find ourselves getting into trouble by saying something that should have gone unsaid.

One of my favorite proverbs is found inProverbs 17:28: "Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace; when he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive."

Very similar to the more recent saying: "Better to be thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt."

Lest you open your mouth today and say something you may later regret, stop for a moment before you speak and make sure it's the wise thing to do.

 

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© 2004 Alan Smith. Used by permission. This devotional was reprinted from Thought for the Day.

Title: "Keep Your Mouth Shut"
Author: Alan Smith
Publication Date: April 30, 2004

The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language by Eugene H. Peterson Many have awaited the day Eugene Peterson would complete the entire Bible in his unique translational-paraphrase. Well, the wait is over!

Alan Smith ministers with the Church of Christ in White House, Tennessee and publishes the email devotional "Thought for the Day."

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