King Solomon, the sage of Israel,
wrote, ``A fool's lips enter into contention, and his mouth calls for
blows. A fool's mouth is destruction, and his lips are the snare of his
soul. The words of a talebearer are like tasty trifles, and they go down
into the inmost body''
(Proverbs 18:6-8).
And again, ``A perverse man sows strife, and a whisperer separates the
best of friends''
(Proverbs 16:28).
This truth has been recognized by many
before and after Solomon. Friendships and family ties have been
sacrificed at the altar of gossip. Even whole nations have been brought
low by slander.
Each of us, at one time or another, has
been the object of another's gossip. We know all too well the power of
the tongue to hurt and destroy. Perhaps the gossiper needs to be
reminded that ``whatever a man sows, that he will also reap''
(Gal. 6:7).
Perhaps that is why the wise man said, ``whoever speaks slander is a
fool'' (Prov.
10:18). Jesus Himself
admonished, ``Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to
them....''
(Matthew 7:12).
A good rule to follow when tempted to
repeat a juicy morsel of gossip might be to ask one's self a few
pertinent questions: (1) do I know this to be a fact, (2) would I be
willing to put it in writing and sign my name to it, and (3) will those
to whom I tell it be made better by this knowledge? If we cannot answer
these questions in the affirmative, let us refrain from the temptation
to ``tell all.'' If someone approaches you with a bit of slander, ask
him to submit to this same three question test. If he ``flunks out','
consider the source of that which you have heard, and pour cold water on
the fire of contention.
``Where there is no wood, the fire goes
out; and where there is no talebearer, strife ceases. As charcoal is to
burning coals, and wood to fire, so is a contentious man to kindle
strife. The words of a talebearer are like tasty trifles, and they go
down into the inmost body''
(Prov 26:20-22)
