Thursday, March 15

THURSDAY, MARCH 15, 2018

12 Whoever derides their neighbor has no sense,

    but the one who has understanding holds their tongue.

13 A gossip betrays a confidence,

    but a trustworthy person keeps a secret.

(Proverbs 11:12,13)

The Book of Proverbs contains remarkable insight into our relationships with God, with others, and ourselves.  After receiving Christ and thereby (through God's doing) establishing a love-relationship with Him, we may then experience the restoration and rebuilding of human relationships and our perspectives on whom we are.

In these two verses, Solomon discusses our relationships with others, highlighting the foolishness of nonconstructive criticism and a loose tongue.

We may find sick pleasure in making fun of others' shortcomings, either in personality or achievements.  This act may even bring us a short-term boost of self-confidence.  But it has no place in the life of a Christ-follower.  First, we are diminishing someone who bears the image of God, having been so created; we are therefore speaking negatively ultimately of God.  Second, we may soon find ourselves in the position at which we are poking fun.  Humility suggests that we should comfort those who mourn and rejoice with those who rejoice.  We may help others to bear their burdens, making them lighter.

In the second verse, we discover that gossiping has its root cause in our lack of trustworthiness.  Just like derision brings us unhealthy pleasure, so can gossiping.  In another verse, the Scriptures describe gossip as a "morsel."  For me, "morsel" always brings to mind chocolate chips; some of those my mother used for baking in my childhood home included that in their label.  Yet, gossip is more like a chocolate chip that becomes bitter after its first taste, poisoning our relationships with others.

It is crucial to develop trust with others so that we may speak honestly and fruitfully into one another's lives.  Without trust, relationships will become like wet newspaper:  weak and unproductive.  Loving others means taking steps to grow their confidence in us through our faithfulness and resolving to believe the best about them.  Friendship takes effort, but the rewards come through life transformation in others and in us.

Lord God, thank You for designing our human relationships to support our transformation into the likeness of Your Son.  Give us wisdom in these relationships, that we will not casually deride others or betray their confidence.  Bring us a heart of love for other people, that we would care more deeply for their hearts and souls than for our own glory or advancement.  Develop within us the heart of Christ, Who responded to people's pain with compassion and healing.  In Jesus's mighty Name, amen.