Overcoming Sin through Christ

Talkativeness

A person who is talkative or garrulous refers to one who is inclined to talk too much.  This is the opposite of quietness.  Synonyms would be chatty, long-winded, wordy, and verbose.  The opposite would be reticent, reserved, and taciturn. Scripture emphasizes the virtue of quietness in heart and voice. We’ve all be in situations when a man or woman talks on and on, without stopping, and without allowing others to speak or reply. Even the deist Benjamin Franklin recognized the problem with this vice.  He considered “silence” as a virtue to be pursued.  His rule was: “Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation.”

In our efforts to avoid talkativeness, we must not go to the extreme that Catholic monks did when they spent months without talking at all in the monasteries.  They erred on the opposite side since Scripture says that there are many occasions in which we should talk!

Talkativeness: This selfish attitude and speech pattern is something that Scripture addresses quite clearly.  Paul writes, “make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business” (1 Thessalonians 4:11a).  He urges us to pray that “we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity” (1 Timothy 2:2).  He further writes, “A woman must quietly receive instruction with entire submissiveness.  But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet” (1 Timothy 2:11-12).

In regard to the women in the meetings, Paul writes, “The women are to keep silent in the churches; for they are not permitted to speak, but are to subject themselves, just as the Law also says. . . . it is improper for a woman to speak in church” (1 Corinthians 14:34-35).  Peter urges women in this way: “Let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God” (1 Peter 3:4). From such scriptures, we can see that women are to be quiet in demeanor and even men are to be quiet, especially in certain circumstances.

The opposite of quietness is talkativeness (and, of course, “noise” may come in more ways that talking).  Scripture gives us warning about talking too much: “When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise” (Proverbs 10:19).  “The fool multiplies words” (Ecclesiastes 10:14a).  It is wise to weigh our words carefully when we speak: “He who restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding” (Proverbs 17:27).  Solomon also said, “The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things” (Proverbs 15:28).  James adds, “Everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger” (1:19).  It is true that “wisdom is to restrain the tongue, since much speech risks sin.”[1]

The Holy Scriptures say time and again that idle talk is a sin, but we usually do not take it seriously. And yet this is a sin that God will judge very severely. . . . Talking is a very serious matter.  Our words will not blow away like chaff.  They will arise again at the Last Judgment.  Not one of them will be lost. . . . What is the way to being set free completely? First we must find the root of talkativeness.  Often it is our desire for attention.  We want to make ourselves important.  We think we have to give our opinion about everything. How quickly these unprofitable words lead us to speak in a disparaging way about others who are not present!  Or we begin to gossip and spread rumors, etc. Or sometimes we use idle talk to drown our bad conscience; sometimes we chatter out of laziness, because we do not want to work; sometimes out of bitterness, because we want to let out the poisonous thoughts in us.[2]

When our personal meditation time is over and we return to people, His presence should accompany us and our words should be filled with His Holy Spirit.  Then we can no longer tell shady jokes and we will not talk needlessly.  We should only say what we would were Jesus physically in our midst.[3]

Few people value quietness as the Lord does.  Let’s beware of the common trap of talkativeness and “long-windedness.”

 

[1] MacArthur Study Bible, note.

[2] Schlink, You Will Never be the Same, pp. 169-170.

[3] Ibid., p. 170.