HOW TO GUARD RELATIONSHIPS
Read Proverbs 26:17-28
I would like to spend a few moments this morning looking at Proverbs 26:20-22. There is great counsel regarding how to guard your tongue to sustain wholesome relationships.
Verse 20, "Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth." The thought is a simple one, fire must have fuel (wood in this case), and where no wood is, the fire goes out. Strife stops when people learn to control their tongue. A talebearer is a gossip, and gossip is divisive. Scripture states, in Proverbs 17:9, "He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends." It seems that one of the most destructive things on earth and in the church is a loose tongue. Each time you speak, make sure your motive is true and caring.
Verse 21, "As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife." People who are contentious are those who cause strife. Again, the contention is the fuels of coal and wood. A contentious person is one who agitates and causes problems.
Verse 22, "The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.” The word translated as talebearer basically means a ‘gossip’ or a ‘backbiter.’ The verse is the same as Proverbs 18:8. The thought is that words spoken by others can cause wounds, yes, deep wounds. Words spoken by a gossip or a backbiter can cause deep and bitter wounds. The wisdom for the wise is to learn to keep one’s mouth shut. Fights, bickering, friction, and discord are caused more by loose lips than any other one thing. Moreover, they often cause deep emotional wounds that are difficult for people to overcome. Many a person has discontinued participation in the church because of the wounds they received at the hands of a talebearing Christian.
Make sure your words build-up, and encourage those who hear them.
Your Friend and HIS,
Pastor Abbott
MEDITATIONS
1. Have you ever been around a gossip? How did you respond to such a person?
2. How does love rule supreme when we refuse to gossip?
3. Have you ever been around a person who was a purveyor of strife? How did you respond?
4. Have you ever been hurt by someone who gossiped about you? How did that make you feel? How did you deal with it?