On Being Long-Winded

The story is told of a man who once attended a meeting where the guest lecturer was extremely long-winded. When the listener could stand it no longer, he got up and slipped out a side door. In the corridor he met a friend who asked, “Has he finished yet?” “Yes,” the man replied, “he’s been finished for a long time — he just doesn’t know when to quit!”

The idea of coming to the point and saying something worthwhile is also good counsel for us as we talk with other folks each day. If we are honest with ourselves, we must admit that much of our conversation is nothing more than empty talk.

The Lord once warned, “For every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment” (Matthew 12:36).

Let’s pause a moment and think about what our usual conversation is like. What do we talk about the most? Do we talk too much and not give any opportunity for others to speak?

Is our speech profitable by it being an encouragement to others? Do our words glorify God? (Matthew 5:15-16; cf. Ecclesiastes 5:2; Colossians 4:6).

Dear reader, today (and every day), let us make the words of David our prayer: “Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips” (Psalm 141:3).

—Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets