A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are
the snare of his soul. The words of a
talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the
belly. Proverbs, Chapter 18, verses 7-8.
I have seen children at school go to another student
and say something like, “Fred thinks you’re ugly.” The child is crushed by this
information. In talking to the student
who shared this, I have come to realize that they thought they were doing the
child a favor by telling. I have to
explain that when they share hurtful things, even though they weren’t the one
who originally said them, they are actually being hurtful themselves.
I have stopped being close friends with some adults
who manipulatively work situations to their own good. I have known those who will get a person
involved in a discussion focused on putting down another person, as well. Then they go to the other person and say what
was said, trying to get in close with that person. It’s a, “Did you know what terrible things
Fred said about you?” on a grown-up level.
This passage doesn’t sound like God takes too kindly to this type of
behavior.
Because this is an example of how I’ve applied this Bible passage to my life, it doesn't necessarily reflect the whole meaning of the passage.
Please click on comments below to share your suggestions. Thanks! Debbie
