DCLM Daily Manna 5 September 2025 Devotional By Pastor W. F. Kumuyi — Speak Less
TOPIC: Speak Less (DCLM Daily Manna 5 September 2025)
KEY VERSE: “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God” (James 1:19,20).
TEXT: James 1:19-25 (KJV)
19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.
21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
MESSAGE:
The British royal family’s unofficial motto, “Never complain, never explain,” was a hallmark of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign. The motto does not have its origin with a member of the royal family but with a comment made by a British Prime Minister, Benjamin Disraeli, who served two terms under Queen Victoria. Disraeli died in 1881 and the earliest attribution of the quote in full was made to him in a 1903 work by John Morley. The expression stresses the importance of exercising restraints in speaking, especially when one seems to be on the other side of favour. It is used as a guiding principle for personal and professional conduct.
Apostle James, in the inspired text of today, warns against being quick to speak. This parallels an earlier caution in the Scriptures in Ecclesiastes 5:1: “Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil.” The exhortation highlights the need to listen more and speak less, which consequently reduces tension and strife in fellowship. The text concludes by encouraging believers to be doers of the Word and not hearers only.
When we are quick to listen and slow to speak, we act more wisely. Being slow to speak and quick to listen will help us gain the perspectives of others, and understand what they are thinking and feeling. It also gives us the time needed to calm down and not become easily offended. The words we speak can wound or heal.
Inciting words can ignite a fire that consumes the entire community. There have been reports of school children who committed suicide because of repeated taunting and bullying by fellow students at school.
The people who keep quiet are believed to be wiser than their talkative counterpart. Those who listen and learn succeed more than those who are quick to talk, without having enough time to think and pray. Labouring to give our perspectives on every subject and taking time to defend our views, will amount to too much talking. God gave us two ears, two eyes, and one mouth. This indicates, from His wise design, that we are intended to see and hear more and speak less. We need to ask God to guide our steps and keep the door on our lips.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
Speak less and listen more.
THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR
Psalms 89-91
Deeper Life Daily Manna was written by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.
