Too Many Words - Martin Wiles

The talk of fools is a rod for their backs, but the words of the wise keep them out of trouble. Proverbs 14:3 NLT

Sometimes, when I think I’ve said a lot, I realize I’ve said very little.

The assignment was simple. Students were to write a short paper detailing three things they felt strongly about. When they finished, I collected the papers and re-distributed them to their peers to check for grammatical errors, redundancy, and wordiness. 

One young lady approached my desk. “Doesn’t this sentence say the same as the previous one?” she asked.

“It does,” I replied.

A short time later, she returned. “Doesn’t this sentence say the same thing, too?”

“Yes, it does,” I said again.

With a confused look and a sigh, she whispered, “But that only leaves one sentence in the entire paragraph.”

I shook my head and smiled, then gathered the class’s attention. “Class, life lesson. Sometimes, when we think we have a lot to say, we have very little.”

The student, whose paper was in question, laughed, but I was convinced.

Many are the warnings God gives throughout the Bible with outright instruction or by example about the potency of our words. Taking into consideration those warnings, and noticing that I have two ears but only one mouth, I’ve concluded it’s better to listen more than I talk. I’ll learn more, stay out of trouble, and develop healthier relationships.

The classroom exercise also reminded me of how crucial it is to choose carefully the words we write or speak. Since wordiness and redundancy are rife, we must ensure the ones we give out are worth listening to. Saying the most in the fewest words is challenging and requires forethought, but it is possible.

Since people’s attention spans are growing increasingly shorter, speaking or writing with as few words as possible is wise. Otherwise, we’ll lose those to whom we think we have something to say.

Words also reflect our character—the people we are on the inside. I have a sneaky suspicion the young student was attempting to take a shortcut. Since I require a minimum of five sentences in a paragraph, they were shooting for the goal rather than thinking about that which they felt strongly. However, a student with a watchful eye foiled their attempt.

Make sure the words you deliver are worth listening to. 

Father, may the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in your sight—and pleasant to others.

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