The mouths of fools are their undoing,
 and their lips are a snare to their very lives. Proverbs 18:7

I Samuel 25 accounts that during the time of King David’s outlaw years, he and his men were doing a little “free lance sheep-guarding.” They didn’t want much in return, just a thanks in the form of a well-deserved meal.

But the request came at a time when much celebration had been going on in Nabal’s house and he was feeling a bit insulted by the request and let his colors show. David’s young men went and delivered his message word for word to Nabal. Nabal tore into them, “Who is this David? Who is this son of Jesse? The country is full of runaway servants these days. Do you think I’m going to take good bread and wine and meat freshly butchered for my sheepshearers and give it to men I’ve never laid eyes on? Who knows where they’ve come from?” I Samuel 25:9-11

Read the rest for yourself, but suffice it to say, heads were about to roll…that is, until Mrs. Abigail stepped in with a wise response; some food, kind words, sincere respect and just appreciation!

I have been hot-headed. I have opened my lips before I considered the consequences. Everybody plays the fool sometime. And today’s Proverb reminds me of the potential devastation that foolish talking can bring.

No matter how rough and tough or big and bad you are, nothing good comes from picking a fight by being inconsiderate, obnoxious, and rude. In the case of Nabal, it cost him, indirectly. But had it not been for Abigail’s interception, a whole lot of innocent by-standers would have paid with their lives.

PRAYER: “In my home, in my daily affairs, Good Father, fool-proof my face! Send me an Abigail to help me learn how to temper, tame and refrain when it comes to my convictions, comments and opinions. Amen!”