Is Some Sin Unavoidable?

I was raised to believe in free will. I was taught that God gives us complete and total choice in our actions and behavior – therefore no sin is unavoidable, right? Well, evidently this is not completely true. It appears that there is unavoidable sin.

Unavoidable Sin

According to Proverbs 10:19, this unavoidable sin comes into play when we talk too much. Take a look at the verse and see what you think:

When there are many words, sin is unavoidable,
but the one who controls his lips is wise.

The way I read this verse, some sin is unavoidable. At the same time, I think this is really more about timing. If you think about it, the author is saying sin becomes unavoidable WHEN there are many words.

Sin And Timing

In other words, once we begin talking too much we put ourselves into a position where sin is unavoidable. The sin is avoidable when we are silent, but once we start talking past a certain point, we are on an inevitable slide toward sin.

I guess it could be comparable to placing a gambling addict into a casino or an alcoholic onto a barstool. Their sin is avoidable if they stay away from the source of their addiction, but becomes (mostly) inevitable when facing it head-on. Whatever the case, the verse is pretty clear about what we are supposed to do.

The Challenge In Business

When we read this verse through our business lenses, it becomes clear that we are accountable for our words. This is true in all areas of our lives – including the workplace. As leaders, we are even held to a higher standard.

What are some examples of when this is most likely to be a challenge?

Well, I cannot speak for you, but I can give you some of the times when I have had the hardest time controlling my lips. In some of these cases, I did well. In other cases, I did not!

Controlling Your Lips

Imagine a customer asks you about a direct competitor of yours. How do you respond? In my industry, there are many competitors that are less than honorable and forthright. This makes it very difficult to respond to the customer (or friend) at all. Mom said if you can’t say something nice….

What about when you are asked about a success in your business? This one might seem easy, but it could very easily lead to prideful or self-promoting words – even if you are determined to avoid them! Taking credit becomes even more difficult when the person asking is someone you want to impress. Embarrassing, but true.

Social Media

Another example of a challenge to remain silent is one that has only appeared in recent years with the explosion of social media. Because of the way people now have a public bullhorn and are not afraid to use it, this one can easily get out of hand. This is especially true when they let their emotions override their brain.

As a result, the sky is the limit as to what could be said by disgruntled customers, sneaky competitors, or even former employees. In fact, some of the worst comments could even come from their connections, most of whom have none of the facts, but love a chance to jump into any available fray.

What Is Your Response?

How are you supposed to respond when you or your motives are challenged or even attacked in the public arena of social media? You likely know those involved have only 15% of the facts.

You want to jump in and explain the rest of the story. If you remain silent, aren’t others going to read what was said and believe it to be true just because someone they know said it? What is the right move?

I will tell you that I have faced this on occasion and remaining silent was extremely hard for me. I know without a doubt that I am not perfect. I know I make mistakes and will readily admit it. At the same time, in most of these cases I know we made the right decisions.

Let Me Tell My Side!

In these kinds of situations, we know the additional facts (unknown to those bringing the attack), if disclosed, would explain our side. At the same time, I am not sure anyone would even be receptive to hear the our side. And then this old adage comes to mind – never mess with the guy holding the microphone…there really is no way to win.

Here is the bottom line for the above examples (and any others you can recall)…we must control our lips. Even when remaining silent leads people to believe we are guilty, I believe we must stay out of the fray. If there was an easy way to silence them in a few words, maybe you could make an argument for mounting a defense. It’s just unlikely.

Limit Your Words

Otherwise, this proverb fits. Limit your words. Stay out of the fight whenever possible. God will take care of you if you remain in right relationship with Him. Of course, if there is something you can learn from the challenges, don’t let that pass by either. Pray for discernment so you can glean wisdom from the experience.

And by the way, I do realize the irony in my publicly writing about remaining silent! I took great pains not to go into too much detail about my situations. I also did my best to stick to the lessons we can learn and my advice on how (not) to respond. If I stepped outside of these bounds, I apologize.

Have you faced this challenge before?

Have you seen the unavoidable sin in too many words?

How do you avoid putting yourself in this position?