阅读经文 

如今，似乎你说的话越多，你就越有能力或越受欢迎。无论是在社交媒体上，在每日新闻中，在政治上，还是在董事会会议上，你说的越多（而且越大声），你的影响力似乎就越大。

但是神如何看待我们的喋喋不休呢？

圣经警告我们，我们要小心我们的言语和使用的方式。在马太福音第六章7节，耶稣鼓励祂的信徒在祷告中不要用很多的话，好像这样会使他们在神面前印象更深刻。祂说：“你们祷告，不可像外邦人，用许多重复话。他们以为话多了必蒙垂听。”

当我们试图用许多话打动神或他人时，有多少次觉得自己被听见？我们是否试图通过加快语速，主导对话，占据上风来证明自己？

箴言第十章19节说，有智慧的人会避免多言多语。他们说话谨慎，有智慧，有分辨力。他们知道倾听比说话更重要。(另参雅 1:19）

耶稣深思熟虑、眼光敏锐，这也应该是我们的目标。

Today it seems as if the more words you say, the more powerful or popular you can be. Whether you're on social media, in the daily news, in politics, or in a board meeting, the more you say (and the louder you say it), the more influence you seem to have.

But what does God think of all our chatter?

Scripture warns us that we need to be careful with our words and how we use them. In Matthew 6:7, Jesus encourages his followers to refrain from using many words in their prayers, as if that would make them more impressive to God. He says, "When you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words."

How often do we think we will be heard—by God or by others—when we use many words to try to impress them? Do we try to prove ourselves by speaking quickly, dominating the conversation, and coming out on top?

Proverbs 10:19 says that people who are prudent refrain from using too many words. They speak with discretion, wisdom, and discernment. They know that listening is more important than speaking. (See also James 1:19.)

Jesus was thoughtful and discerning, and that should be our aim as well.