Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few. As a dream comes when there are many cares, so the speech of a fool when there are many words.

(Ecclesiastes 5:2–3)

A woman walked into her local newspaper office to submit the obituary for her recently deceased husband.  Known for her frugality, she wanted something short and to the point.

The clerk informed her the cost was 50 cents per word. She paused, then said, “Okay, let it read: ‘Billy Bob died.’”

The editor smiled but said, “Ma’am, I’m afraid there’s a seven-word minimum.”

The woman thought for a moment, then nodded. “Fine. Let it read: ‘Billy Bob died. 1983 pickup for sale.’”

That bit of humor carries a deeper message. In a world filled with noise and constant chatter, there’s something both refreshing — and biblical — about using words sparingly and intentionally.

The writer of Ecclesiastes cautions us, “Do not be quick with your mouth… so let your words be few.”  Why?  Because words matter.  And when we speak too quickly, we risk saying more than we should and meaning less than we intend.

This principle is especially relevant in our age of nonstop communication. Social media, texts, emails — there’s pressure on all of us to speak quickly, react instantly, and fill the silence with opinions or updates. But Scripture invites us into a different rhythm: to slow down, think deeply, and speak only what’s worth saying.

Notice how this passage connects “many words” with foolishness. When we speak too much, we often say too little of real value.  Wisdom is found not in constant talking, but in knowing when to stay quiet and when to speak up.

“Let your words be few” doesn’t mean we never speak.  It means we give careful thought to what we say.  Like the thrifty woman in the story, we should make our words count.  Whether we’re grieving, joking, praying, or sharing — let’s say only what’s worth saying, and let go of the rest.

Prayer: Father, help me not to talk too much.  Let my words be thoughtful, humble, and full of grace.  Teach me to listen more than I speak, and may the words that I do say reflect your wisdom. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Alan Smith
Reprinted with permission from Alan Smith’s Thought For the Day