The Need of Mouth Ninjas - Proverbs 21:23

He who guards his mouth and his tongue, Guards his soul from troubles.   Proverbs 21:23
 
All of us can identify with a situation where we said something that got us in trouble.  We let a comment slip or we say something before seriously thinking about what we were about to say.  Regardless of what was said - it ended in trouble - in someone's feelings being hurt.  Extreme situations can land us in a doghouse that is very difficult to get out of . . . all because we were not cautious enough about the things that we said.
 
Today's proverb tells us to guard our mouth and our tongue.  The word used for guard is a strong word meaning to set a watch guard or a military sentry over our mouth and our tongue.  We are not just casually watching what we say - we are placing well-armed guards over our mouths to make sure that they do not run off on their own.  Considering that Scripture tells us that the power of death and life are in our words - that James tells us that our words are like a fire and that they can be set our very lives on fire - it is a wise thing to put some guards there.  After re-reading this last sentence I'd set some ninjas aided by a few Navy Seals there.  I remember an old Last Days Newsletter written by Keith Green that had a picture of machine gun toting commandos peering over the molars in a person's mouth.  That is the kind of watchfulness we need to have when it comes to our mouths and our tongues.  
 
The one who does not guard his tongue and mouth will face troubles.  Think about the last time your mouth got you in trouble.  Imagine again the kind of difficulty it caused you emotionally.  Try to remember how your soul ached as you realized you had once again inserted your foot in your mouth and swallowed it up to your kneecap.  The wisdom of God warns that our soul will have troubles.  That is our mind, will, and emotions - and most likely all three will face difficulties when we speak apart from God's wisdom.  I've known of situations that lasted only a few hours - but others that are still going years and even decades later.  A wise man learns from such things and holds his tongue.  He is wise and shuts his mouth - contemplating the things he is about to say.  To do otherwise is to court problems that can range from a few awkward moments to a life altering relational disaster.