"Whoever hides hatred has lying lips,
And whoever spreads slander is a fool."
Devotional
Ruining another’s reputation (whether openly or secretly) is not only unwise in that it marks you a fool, and ultimately ruins your own reputation, but it leaves you liable to civil litigation; and more ominously it makes you accountable to God (Lev. 19:16-17; Ps. 15:1-3; 50:21-21; Matt. 5:22-23 etc.). While on the Spiritual side of the ledger, when you defame another’s character you align yourself with the diabolos; i.e. the Devil who himself is Biblically described as a slanderer and Accuser of the brethren (Rev. 12:10). Therefore the Scripture warns that not only those who speak such things, but also those who delight in hearing such things, will bear the consequences that such things bring (Prov. 18:8; 26:22). Therefore the Apostle Peters exhortation to us all who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and have chosen to follow him in righteousness is that we should not speak evil of anyone; especially fellow believers (Titus 3:2; James 4:11).
10 For “He who would love life
And see good days,
Let him refrain his tongue from evil,
And his lips from speaking deceit.
11 Let him turn away from evil and do good;
Let him seek peace and pursue it.
12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
And His ears are open to their prayers;
But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” 1 Peter 3:10-12
Want to follow Jesus? Want to be a fisher of men? Don’t gossip about, or speak evil of people and certainly not other Christians. For not only is it hurtful to them, which is not walking in love, but it is clearly dishonoring to God. Therefore it is sin. And it will undermine your own witness and effectiveness in Christ’s service. Since grieving the Holy Spirit is neither the way to evangelize, nor make disciples, or build church unity in love (Eph. 4:29-31). Therefore don’t justify it! Confess it as sin and repent of it! The Apostle James said of our often misused tongues: “ 9 With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. 10 Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? 12 Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh. James 3:9-12
Related Proverbs
Proverbs 11:9
The hypocrite with his mouth destroys his neighbor,
But through knowledge the righteous will be delivered.
Proverbs 11:13
A talebearer reveals secrets,
But he who is of a faithful spirit conceals a matter.
Proverbs 13:2
A man shall eat well by the fruit of his mouth,
But the soul of the unfaithful feeds on violence
Proverbs 18:20
A man’s stomach shall be satisfied from the fruit of his mouth,
From the produce of his lips he shall be filled.
Proverbs 18:21
Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
And those who love it will eat its fruit.
Proverbs 20:19
He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets;
Therefore do not associate with one who flatters with his lips.
Proverbs 25:23
The north wind brings forth rain,
And a backbiting tongue an angry countenance.
Scripture Quotations
The Holy Bible, New King James Version, (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc.) 1982.
And whoever spreads slander is a fool."
Devotional
Ruining another’s reputation (whether openly or secretly) is not only unwise in that it marks you a fool, and ultimately ruins your own reputation, but it leaves you liable to civil litigation; and more ominously it makes you accountable to God (Lev. 19:16-17; Ps. 15:1-3; 50:21-21; Matt. 5:22-23 etc.). While on the Spiritual side of the ledger, when you defame another’s character you align yourself with the diabolos; i.e. the Devil who himself is Biblically described as a slanderer and Accuser of the brethren (Rev. 12:10). Therefore the Scripture warns that not only those who speak such things, but also those who delight in hearing such things, will bear the consequences that such things bring (Prov. 18:8; 26:22). Therefore the Apostle Peters exhortation to us all who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and have chosen to follow him in righteousness is that we should not speak evil of anyone; especially fellow believers (Titus 3:2; James 4:11).
10 For “He who would love life
And see good days,
Let him refrain his tongue from evil,
And his lips from speaking deceit.
11 Let him turn away from evil and do good;
Let him seek peace and pursue it.
12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
And His ears are open to their prayers;
But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” 1 Peter 3:10-12
Want to follow Jesus? Want to be a fisher of men? Don’t gossip about, or speak evil of people and certainly not other Christians. For not only is it hurtful to them, which is not walking in love, but it is clearly dishonoring to God. Therefore it is sin. And it will undermine your own witness and effectiveness in Christ’s service. Since grieving the Holy Spirit is neither the way to evangelize, nor make disciples, or build church unity in love (Eph. 4:29-31). Therefore don’t justify it! Confess it as sin and repent of it! The Apostle James said of our often misused tongues: “ 9 With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. 10 Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? 12 Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh. James 3:9-12
Related Proverbs
Proverbs 11:9
The hypocrite with his mouth destroys his neighbor,
But through knowledge the righteous will be delivered.
Proverbs 11:13
A talebearer reveals secrets,
But he who is of a faithful spirit conceals a matter.
Proverbs 13:2
A man shall eat well by the fruit of his mouth,
But the soul of the unfaithful feeds on violence
Proverbs 18:20
A man’s stomach shall be satisfied from the fruit of his mouth,
From the produce of his lips he shall be filled.
Proverbs 18:21
Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
And those who love it will eat its fruit.
Proverbs 20:19
He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets;
Therefore do not associate with one who flatters with his lips.
Proverbs 25:23
The north wind brings forth rain,
And a backbiting tongue an angry countenance.
Scripture Quotations
The Holy Bible, New King James Version, (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc.) 1982.
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