Wisdom of Solomon 1:7-11
The Lord’s Spirit fills the whole world. It holds everything together and knows what everyone says. Therefore, those who utter unjust words don’t escape notice. Justice will expose them and not pass them by. A proper inquiry will be made into the plots of ungodly people. News of their words will reach the Lord and make their lawless deeds known. God’s ear listens intently to everything anyone says. Murmurings can’t be kept secret for long. So guard against useless murmuring. Keep your tongue from speaking ill. Everything you say has some consequence, even if you think that you are speaking in private. A lying mouth destroys the soul.
Solomon, being one of the wisest men who ever lived, and also being a public figure, could not escape his words being paid close attention to.
I often say things in anger or in jest or adapting to the company I am around. His warning to “guard against useless murmuring” means that it is on me to be aware and proactive when I am going into situations where I may be tempted to fit in or complain or “speak ill” of others or just drop F-bombs.
“Everything you say has some consequence” My words have power. Speaking words, even in private, have power. Jesus words have power. They heal. They warn. They teach. They convict. They inspire. They cause us to think differently and change how we love others. Wow, everything I say! Even when I think I am just joking about myself or talking trash about the Yankees or praising my dog, everything has some consequence! I can’t know what that consequence is going to be because if I did, that would change my speaking. But I can be pretty sure of whether it will be negative or positive.