Loose Lips Sink Ships

The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence. Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses. On the lips of him who has understanding, wisdom is found, but a rod is for the back of him who lacks sense. The wise lay up knowledge, but the mouth of a fool brings ruin near. A rich man's wealth is his strong city; the poverty of the poor is their ruin. The wage of the righteous leads to life, the gain of the wicked to sin. Whoever heeds instruction is on the path to life, but he who rejects reproof leads others astray. The one who conceals hatred has lying lips, and whoever utters slander is a fool. (Proverbs 10:11-18 ESV).

       

Most of us are not old enough to remember the first use of the phrase “Loose Lips Sink Ships.” The phrase is an American English idiom meaning "beware of unguarded talk". The phrase originated on propaganda posters during World War II. The phrase was created by the War Advertising Council and used on posters by the United States Office of War Information. Our reading today comes from a larger context covering the entire 10^th chapter of Proverbs. It is a stark contrast between words of wisdom and words of foolishness or evil. The summary is found at the end of our reading: The one who conceals hatred has lying lips, and whoever utters slander is a fool (v. 18).

 

I have written devotionals in the past dealing with the need for wholesome speech. If ever there was a time when there seems to be a dearth of such talk in our modern culture, it is today. There are so many examples available on a daily basis I hesitate to begin to illustrate the principle for fear I may run out of memory on my computer to hold them all!

 

Be that as it may, let’s step back a moment and focus on the central teaching. Practical wisdom for righteous living comes to us through the Bible, especially in Jesus’ example, and also by way of the people around us, wise leaders and mentors of all kinds in our family and community. Our memories of good, helpful people and their ways of dealing with life can be a great blessing. Righteous people often share wisdom by word and example in ways that make an impact on us. Remembering how a friend dealt wisely with difficulties in his life can be instructive. Remembering how someone walked with and trusted God in her final days can be deeply encouraging. That is our example.

 

We are truly blessed when we can remember righteous people who have imparted wisdom to us. People’s words accompanied by righteous living make for blessed memories. Jesus’ example of living by the way of wisdom and the good examples of people who have followed him make all the difference for us, in life and in death. Let’s be that kind of a person regardless of the common examples of our day.