photo #4133456

"A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter." (Proverbs 11:13)Gossip and slander are powerfully seductive temptations. They hold the greatest power over those who lack confidence in their place in God. By putting down another person it is wrongly believed that we exalt our self. By sharing another's secrets, we think we impress others with our inside knowledge. What we are actually doing is warning people not to confide in us.One of the first things that we must learn as men and women of faith is our position in Jesus Christ. When we realize how much we are loved, have a prepared place in Heaven that is ours, and all that we possess in Jesus, we no longer need to go hither and yon trying to obtain the respect of others with slander and gossip. We are secure and at peace, and our behavior is in accordance with what we believe by faith.We are to value the souls of those that confide in us and know how destructive sharing their secrets could be. Our lips are guarded by our fear of the LORD and our love for one another.Those folks like Sammy Slander, Gertrude Gossip, along with Thorton and Thelma Talebearer, who like to meet for their morning coffee at Joe's Java Joint to share their latest dirt to any who will listen, are seeking to impress people to gain their respect. To be sure, it certainly will gain the respect of those who are living in darkness, but not from the children of light. The trustworthy soul knows the motivations behind slander and gossip and knows them to be a trap.Friends, remember this, when those with lying lips and loose tongues have your ear to whisper some slander and gossip about someone else, you can rest assured that somewhere down the road, they will be whispering in someone else's ear some slander and gossip about you with their latest foolish fake news.