think

One of my favorite quiz shows of all time is "Family Feud". One of the joys of watching it is seeing what people will say when they don't have very long to think. These are some actual answers from contestants who have appeared on the quiz show "Family Feud":

Name something a blind person might use -- A sword

Name a song with "moon" in the title -- Blue suede moon

Name an item of clothing worn by the 3 musketeers -- A horse 

Name something that floats in the bath -- Water 

Name something you wear on the beach -- A deck chair 

Name something red -- My cardigan 

Name a famous cowboy -- Buck Rogers 

Name a number you have to memorize -- 7 

Name something you do before going to bed -- Sleep 

Name something you put on walls -- Roofs 

Name something in the garden that's green -- Shed 

Name something that flies that doesn't have an engine -- A bicycle with wings 

Name something you might be allergic to -- Skiing 

Name a famous bridge -- The bridge over troubled waters 

Name an animal you might see at the zoo -- A dog 

Name a sign of the zodiac -- April 

Name a non-living object with legs -- Plant 

Name a domestic animal -- Leopard 

Name a part of the body beginning with 'N' -- Knee 

Name a dangerous race -- The Arabs 

Name a way of cooking fish -- Cod

The answers sound ridiculous, but you know what the problem is. It's the pressure of the moment, trying to be the first one to blurt out an answer. And so, sometimes the mouth begins to speak before the brain has had time to completely process the question and the answer.

When you speak without taking time to think, the things that come out of your mouth can be pretty funny. They can also be quite damaging. That's why James warned us:

"So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath." (James 1:19)

Just a reminder to pause for a moment before you speak today. You just might save yourself some embarrassment.