Keys to the Kingdom By Carolyn Tucker
Do you ever open your mouth just to switch feet? I do, and it’s terribly embarrassing. I’ve said a lot of things that would’ve been better left unsaid. The two most-awkward instances that stick out in my memory is in regard to the topic of pregnancy. I knew the rule about never ever ever asking a woman if she’s pregnant, or the due date of the baby. (Knowing a rule and abiding by a rule are two different things.) Neither of these two lovely ladies were actually pregnant. Fortunately, both were gracious and forgiving to me, but I felt like digging a hole and crawling in. It’s impossible to back peddle out of a social faux pas of this magnitude. You’d think since I first pulled this thoughtless stunt in 1993 I wouldn’t do it again in 2024 — but I did.
God had his eye and hand on Job and had blessed him beyond measure. Satan was also watching Job. God was pleased with Job and told Satan, “He is the finest man in all the earth. He is blameless — a man of complete integrity. He fears God and stays away from evil” (Job 1:8 NLT). Long story short, Satan was allowed to destroy Job’s possessions and do with him as he pleased, but God did not allow him to kill Job. You might say that Job had the biggest mid-life crisis ever recorded. But my favorite scripture of this account is: “In all of this, Job did not sin by blaming God” (Job 1:22 NLT). Job was not guilty of sticking his foot in his mouth even though he was suffering terribly.
Now, Job’s wife was a different story. He would have been better off if Mrs. Job would have kept her mouth shut. I think she actually had both feet in her mouth at the same time. Her bad advice to her husband was, “Are you still trying to maintain your integrity? Curse God and die” (Job 1:9 NLT). This is a prime example of the adage, “If you can’t say anything good, then don’t say anything at all.” I’d say Mrs. Job sinned with her mouth in the third degree.
Many Christ followers occasionally and unintentionally make foolish, tactless, or hurtful remarks. And when this happens we should sincerely apologize to the individual, ask for God’s forgiveness, and determine to be more careful in the future. But it appears Mrs. Job was hatefully intentional with her cutting words. She was a discourager instead of an encourager and a pathetic helpmeet. Maybe Satan didn’t kill her just to torture poor Job even more.
“Whoever controls his mouth protects his own life. Whoever has a big mouth comes to ruin” (Proverbs 13:3 GW). If we want to live a happy life and get along with people, we need to consider what we’re about to say before we say it. God created our amazing bodies and He expects us to connect our brain to our mouth before we speak.
“Indeed, we all make many mistakes…” (James 3:2 NLT). Only God’s grace can help us control our words. We need to realize the importance of disciplined speech. A few unkind words, combined with an undercurrent of judgment, can start a fire that’ll completely burn down an established relationship. Remember, only you can prevent forest fires.
The Key: Life is happier if your foot stays where it belongs.