The following story is adapted from a true story sent in to and published by Reader's Digest. Unfortunately, I do not know which issue nor the original author.
One day at lunch a group of preachers was discussing sermon preparation. One minister explained that he devoted the month of July to writing a year's worth of sermons. Another preacher said that he outlined his weekly sermon on Mondays and wrote on the following days. Still another preacher said that he set aside Wednesday mornings for preparation. A fourth preacher confessed to hurrying to meet his deadline late Saturday nights.
A fifth preacher had the final say. "I usually schedule a long hymn before the sermon."
I think I've heard a few of those sermons! :-) Seriously, good sermons require time and thought. It's important to think before we speak. That's true not only from the pulpit, but also in our daily lives. How many problems that you are facing right now would never have arisen if you had only taken the time to think things through before opening your mouth?
Solomon's advice is still as valuable as it was when he gave it:
"Do not be rash with your mouth, and let not your heart utter anything hastily before God......Therefore let your words be few......A fool's voice is known by his many words." (Ecclesiastes 5:2-3)
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