“...for a shew [they] make long prayers.” (Lk. 20:47)
“...Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep...as Paul was long preaching. (Acts 20:9)
“...a fool's voice is known by multitude of words.” (Eccl. 5:3)
THE PRETENCE IN WINDY PRAYERS
A.W. Pink says of long prayers, “Wordy prayers are usually windy ones.” He goes on to say about the prayers of the Bible, “Not some, nor even most, but all of them are exceedingly brief. Most of them comprised in but one or two verses. The longest is only seven verses.” Martin Luther said about prayer, “Let thy words be few, but thy thoughts and affections many, and above all let them be profound.”
THE LONG-WINDED PREACHER
Just because Paul did it doesn’t mean we’re to do it. He shaved his head and took a Jewish vow and offered up an O.T. sacrifice, after preaching grace to the Gentiles. I have found in our day and age that the longer one speaks the more apt his audience (one or a thousand) is inclined to cease listening.
THE WINDS OF PARTICULAR CONVERSATIONS
To listen to some people you wonder where they get the breath. They seem to never stop long enough to get one. Admittedly, most of our problems come from our windpipe. The wise man warns, “In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.” (Prov. 10:19)
We see then whether it be praying, preaching, or conversation, BREVITY IS BEST! This holds true of writing also. And so on that note I close. (1Peter 5:12)
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