They’re leading a preacher, a drunkard and an engineer to the guillotine. They ask the preacher if he wants to face up or down when he meets his fate. The preacher said that he would like to face up so he would be looking toward Heaven when he died. They raised the blade of the guillotine and released it. It came speeding down and suddenly stopped, just inches from his neck. The authorities took this as Divine Intervention and released the preacher.

Next, the drunkard came to the guillotine, and he also decided to die facing up, hoping he would be as fortunate as the preacher. So the blade of the guillotine was raised again, and released. It came speeding down and suddenly stopped just inches from his neck, so he was released as well.

The engineer was next, and he too decided to die facing up. They slowly raised the blade of the guillotine, when suddenly the engineer said, “Hey, I see what the problem is…”

Another reminder that we need to learn when to keep our mouths shut. As much as we may be anxious to share with people just how much we know, sometimes things are better left unsaid! Rarely will keeping quiet get us into trouble (though it can happen), but often do we find ourselves getting into trouble by saying something that should have gone unsaid.

One of my favorite proverbs is found in Proverbs 17:28: “Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace; when he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive.” (NKJV)

Very similar to the more recent saying: “Better to be thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.”

Lest you open your mouth today and say something you may later regret, stop for a moment before you speak and make sure it’s the wise thing to do.

Have a great day!

Alan Smith