STUDY TO BE QUIET

“…And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you…” 1 Thessalonians 4:11

Wow! So, being quiet requires studying? No wonder we have so many noisy people. Contrary to popular belief, I don’t really talk much in person. I’m just like my role model, Paul – Quiet in person, bold when I’m absent, lol.

I remember visiting a woman of God and basically only answering questions when asked. She eventually noted that I was quiet and just observing.

I realise that the quiet people are usually the ones that pick up the most clues.

I remember visiting a friend during our service year. When I got there, I kept silent throughout the first night I spent there. I only responded to questions when asked and I didn’t really talk much as my friend and her room mate gisted.

The next day, I asked my friend’s room mate how ‘General’ was doing. She almost jumped out of her skin and asked me how I knew who ‘General’ was. I smiled…Throughout the gisting session the day before, they couldn’t complete 2 sentences without making reference to ‘General’. Of course I figured out that ‘General’ was an important person in my friend’s roommate’s life (I came to this conclusion by just listening to them gist).

The next time someone begins to tell you your family history, I recommend that you trace back and trace who you’ve spoken to and where you’ve spoken carelessly. Some of the challenges some people are currently dealing with is just because they couldn’t keep their mouths shut…

I remember being in the lift of a very public building a few months ago. A woman and some of her colleagues joined us in the lift and started reeling out very personal details concerning herself and her boss IN THE LIFT. Within the few minutes we spent in the lift, I already learnt that her sister was getting married the next day in a Nigerian State I can’t remember now. I also learnt that her boss was travelling on the last flight of that day…I also learnt that she was taking the first flight the next day in order to meet up. I learnt she was going home to cook for the wedding….W-H-A-T? If that isn’t a loose lip, I’m not sure I can find a better example…Imagine ‘confiding’ in such a loose lip…God will help us.

I’ll conclude with this prayer David made to God. God will help us all…

Set a guard over my mouth, O LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips (Ps. 141:3)

Have a blessed and productive day.