"You Talk Too Much" - Joe Jones 1960
"You
Talk Too Much" was your stereotypical "One Hit Wonder". It was
released in 1960 by the R&B singer, Joe Jones. The song was
originally written by the brother-in-law of Fats Domino, who turned it
down. It was later picked up by Joe Jones. Jones had served in the
Navy and upon his return to civilian life, attended the Julliard
Conservatory of Music. He became the valet and later a pianist and then
arranger for for blues great B.B. King
who passed away last week. ("The Thrill Is Gone" by B.B. King from the 1969 album Completely Well) Jones only hit came in the form of the top 5 R&B
hit, "You Talk Too Much", which also hit #3 on the pop charts.
Proverbs 12:12-14 The wicked desire the stronghold of evildoers, but the root of the righteous endures. Evildoers are trapped by their sinful talk, and so the innocent escape trouble. From the fruit of their lips people are filled with good things, and the work of their hands brings them reward.
Ephesians 4:29
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.
Many times in the Bible the word "Talk" is used. Most commonly, "talk" in the Bible is not necessarily a good thing. As we can see in the above passages, talking can get us into trouble. In the New International Version of the Bible, the word "talk" or a derivative is used 124 times. This would cause one to assume that our ability to communicate with our voice is something that God thought of as important. Typically, our minds go to the sin of gossip, when we think of "talk" or "talking" in the Bible. Gossip is a plague that infects every organization on the planet, including, if not especially, the church. As Christians we are commanded to love God above all else and then love men. It is very difficult to love someone whom you have slandered or lied about. Even the truth can be used for evil if it is done so maliciously or without thought of the consequences for those involved. (For the Biblical references to the word "gossip" click here: "Gossip" Bible references - New Internationl Version of The Bible) Followers of Jesus are not innoculated against this sin in any of its forms. Far too many times, a harmless conversation will become harmful when folks just don't know when to quit talking. Here is a handy dandy way to determine if you talk too much: "How To Tell If You Talk Too Much" - wikiHow. I confess that this is a challenge that I face every day.
I will listen to what God the Lord says; he promises peace to his people, his faithful servants— but let them not turn to folly.
let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance—
Proverbs 1:32-33 For the waywardness of the simple will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them; but whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm.”
10 Listen, my son, accept what I say,
and the years of your life will be many.
11 I instruct you in the way of wisdom
and lead you along straight paths. Proverbs 4:10-11
The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice.
and the years of your life will be many.
11 I instruct you in the way of wisdom
and lead you along straight paths. Proverbs 4:10-11
The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice.
Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise.
While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”
While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
[ Listening and Doing ] My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
James 1:22-24 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.
As you can see from the above passages, listening is a really big deal for those who are followers of the Lord Jesus. It is an act that takes practice to perfect, and attention to apprehend. It is something that has fallen out of favor in the world today. Having a conversation regarding the act of listening posits a few questions. How could the church change the world if we slowed down, stopped talking, and listened? We used to do that a lot. The church has gotten out of the habit of loving by listening. We get the great blessing of knowing folks better by listening to them. It is very difficult to love those that you don't know very well. Our lines of communication have gotten so bogged down by the distractions of this world, that we seem to only get the chance to communicate with other members of the body of Christ, at most, 3 times a week. Perhaps its time for church members to get back into one another's homes. Perhaps its time to show love by sitting on the front porch with some sweet tea and listen to our brother's life needs. Perhaps its time for the body of Christ to get sewn back together by the lace of listening and thereby showing our love for each other. Perhaps it's time we realize that we just talk, talk too much!
'Til Tuesday,
Serving HIM by serving you,
Randy
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