Proverbs 30:32 - Homiletics

Self-suppression

I. WHEN SELF - SUPPRESSION IS NEEDED . It is not always equally demanded of us. There are times for expression, times when we should break reserve and give forth freely the thoughts and purposes of our souls. But other times demand peculiar self-suppression.

1 . In rebuke of foolish vanity . "If thou hast done foolishly in lifting up thyself." A magnified image of self needs to be reduced. Too much pretension must be humbled. Selfish ambition must be cast down.

2 . In restraint of evil thinking . "Or if thou hast thought evil." Jesus Christ has taught us that evil thinking is sin ( Matthew 5:28 ). But the sooner the sin is checked the better, and it can be best checked before it has emerged in word or deed. Expression emphasizes an evil thought. A publication of it makes it hurtful to others. The viper brood should be scotched in the nest.

II. WHAT SELF - SUPPRESSION WILL EFFECT .

1 . It will prevent future evil . We cannot undo the past; we cannot deny our inner self. But at least we may seek for grace that the sin may proceed no further.

2 . It will prepare for better conduct . In itself it is but negative. It has the merit of silence, it is a "masterly inactivity." We must stop before we can turn back. There is therefore a moment of silence, cessation, even death, in the act of conversion. We cannot proceed at once from evil living to good service. St. Paul had his period of silence in Arabia. It would be an immense gain in this noisy age if we could practise more of the golden virtue.

III. HOW SELF - SUPPRESSION MAY BE ATTAINED . "Lay thine hand upon thy mouth." To the noisy and expressive this is no more easy than it is for the glutton to "put a knife to" his "throat" when he is eating "with a ruler" ( Proverbs 23:1 , Proverbs 23:2 ). Frank and open natures are not able readily to recognize the merits of reticence, while, on the other hand, reserved and secretive natures shrink from a requisite confession.

1 . There must be a perception of the evil of giving unrestrained went to one ' s thoughts and desires . Many people do not perceive the dangers of speech. They blurt out the most unseemly things where the sensitive shrink into silence. But a horror of the harm that may be done by heedless words will assist in the cultivation of a habit of self-restraint.

2 . There must be energy of will . The unrestrained nature that is a victim to every rousing impression is no better than an unwalled city open to the invasion of the first chance foe ( Proverbs 25:28 ). Now, it is a work of Divine grace to strengthen the will so that the weak may acquire more control over themselves. At the first blush of it there seems to be more energy in noisy, bustling restlessness, while quiet self-restraint appears inert. But this results from a very superficial view of life. Nothing less than Heaven-sent grace can make us strong enough to keep silent under great provocation or to be still when the heart is boiling over with passion.