Daily Devotional
               Betty Miller shares her daily devotionals which are based on the book of Proverbs in the Bible.   

  The Wisdom of God

Verses for the Day:  

Proverbs 26:20-22 (KJV):
20 Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.
21 As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife.
22 The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.

Proverbs 26:20-22 (AMP):
20 For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, contention ceases.
21 As coals are to hot embers and as wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome man to inflame strife.
22 The words of a whisperer or slanderer are like dainty morsels or words of sport (to some, but to others are like deadly wounds): and they go down into the innermost parts of the body (or of the victim's nature).

Thoughts for the Day:

These verses from Proverbs tell us that when a talebearer is around, they will continually stir up strife, just like wood added to a fire that increases the flames. When wood is not added to a fire, it eventually dies; in comparison, when a slanderer is removed and is stopped from lying, contention also ceases.  There is another Proverb that tells us the way to overcome gossip is to deal with the one who is stirring it up by casting them out.

Proverbs 22:10: Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease.

Businesses and churches could avoid a lot of problems in their environment if they heeded this advice. Of course, before the party was dismissed, they should first be approached about repenting when they have been caught lying or gossiping about others.  However, after talking to them and warning them about their actions, one should follow through with some kind of disciplinary action.  Some Christians are deceived into believing that in the name of love, we should continue to put up with people who are trouble-makers. People who are slanderers make fun of others behind their backs and some people who like gossip will treat their words as "dainty morsels" or "words of sport." However, the victims can be severely wounded from these verbal assaults according to Verse 22.

The Lord gives instructions about dealing with those who are sinning against others in the church. The first line of action is to try to win the brother or sister by going to them alone and speaking the truth in love.  If they refuse to hear us, then we are to take two or three witnesses and confront them again.  If they refuse again, then their sin is to be made known to the whole church (the pastor should be involved in this part of the process). If they again refuse to repent, the church is to no longer offer them Christian fellowship. Gossiping and tale bearing should be among the sins that are dealt with in this manner.

Matthew 18:15-17:
15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as a heathen man and a publican.

People in the workplace should be first warned by their superiors, and then fired, if they continue stirring up strife by continually bad mouthing others. This kind of discipline should always be administered in a fair and just manner, and not based on personality differences. Firing someone should be a last resort, but a necessary one, as a little leaven will leaven the whole lump.  Reaching out to help and correct, is the first thing we should try in our businesses and our churches. However, if this is not received, firmer methods must be used; if not, "the one bad apple in the barrel will cause the others to rot."  God deals with His own children in like manner. Although God is very merciful, kind, and patient, He must then deal with persistent rebellion in a stronger manner to prevent a greater ill from coming upon us. He will also deal with the one who is making it difficult on all of the rest of His children.  At some point He will discipline and cut off the one, for the purpose of sparing the whole.  He does this for the greater good of His entire church.

Romans 11:21-22:
21 For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.
22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

Here are Paul's instructions to the church at Corinth in regard to a man who was sinning in the church.

1 Corinthians 5:6-11:
6 About the condition of your church] your boasting is not good [indeed, it is most unseemly and entirely out of place]. Do you not know that [just] a little leaven will ferment the whole lump [of dough]?
7 Purge (clean out) the old leaven that you may be fresh (new) dough, still uncontaminated [as you are], for Christ, our Passover [Lamb], has been sacrificed.
8 Therefore, let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with leaven of vice and malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened [bread] of purity (nobility, honor) and sincerity and [unadulterated] truth.
9 I wrote you in my [previous] letter not to associate [closely and habitually] with unchaste (impure) people--
10 Not [meaning of course that you must] altogether shun the immoral people of this world, or the greedy graspers and cheats and thieves or idolaters, since otherwise you would need to get out of the world and human society altogether!
11 But now I write to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of [Christian] brother if he is known to be guilty of immorality or greed, or is an idolater [whose soul is devoted to any object that usurps the place of God], or is a person with a foul tongue [railing, abusing, reviling, slandering], or is a drunkard or a swindler or a robber. [No] you must not so much as eat with such a person.

Prayer for the Day:

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank You for Your words of wisdom in dealing with tale bearers.  May we have the courage to go to a brother or sister who has sinned against us, and confront them in love, in order to try and win that one. Lord, deliver me from any spirit of gossip, so that I not only do not speak amiss, but also give me the grace to refuse to listen to others who gossip. By walking away, I will not be adding fuel to the fire of gossip. May I speak kindly and graciously of others and defend those who are targets of a gossipper. I ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen.