WHAT WE TALK by Wm. Covert

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 11, 1901

WHAT WE TALK.

By Wm. Covert

ELDER WM. COVERT.

Few things have more to do with our lives than our talking. He that offends not in word is a perfect man. Christ says that our words either condemn or justify us. This is a matter of course, because our words proceed from our thoughts. “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.” To have sweet words, there must be sweet thoughts. To have bitter words, there must be bitter thoughts. Unkind words are the fruit of unkind thoughts. Sour conversation is the product of sour meditation. Cheap talking indicates that the thinking is cheap. Small talk can prevail only with small minds.

Wisdom thinks more than it talks. It does not tell all it knows. The mouth is servant of the mind; and the mind that causes words to express all it knows is left quite empty.

Solomon says, “He that uttereth a slander is a fool.” Again he says, “In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise;” and, “A fool’s voice is known by multitude of words.” “Let not thine heart be hasty to utter anything before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore, let thy words be few.”

In the early part of the late General Conference, held in Battle Creek, Sister White advised that there be but little talking done by our people, but that there be much praying. She expressed it as her mind that there are usually about ninety-nine words spoken when there should be six instead.

If the Lord’s counsel in this matter should be heeded, there would be far less worry and sin in the world. It would provide a vast opportunity for rest and communion with the Lord. It appears to be the studied effort of man’s adversary to have mankind destroyed by overtalking and cheap thinking.