Proverbs 10:18 Whoever conceals hatred with lying lips
and spreads slander is a fool. New International Version (NIV)
and spreads slander is a fool. New International Version (NIV)
The other day we considered Jesus' call to hear and to listen, we are to listen to the voice of truth. Today's verse speaks of lying lips and slander. We are not to be a part of it and to avoid spreading it we should close our ears to it.
J.R. Miller writes, "In the case of slander, the listener is almost as bad as the speaker. The only proper response, is to shut your ears the moment you begin to hear an evil report of another from anyone. The person has no right to tell it to you--and you have no right to listen to it! If you refuse to listen--he will not be able to go on with his story. Ears are made to hear with, but on occasion it is better to be deaf. We all aim at courtesy, and courtesy requires that we be patient listeners, even to dull speakers; but even courtesy does not require us to listen to evil reports about a neighbor. Ears should be trained to shut instinctively when the breath of slander touches it, just as our eyes shut at the slightest approach of harm."
We won't have to go far into the day, whether it be in personal conversations or on the news or talk shows, before we will hear gossip, slander and other forms of malicious talk, aimed at bringing someone down and attempting to drag us into the fray and in doing so to drag us down. We are to hear to listen with discerning ears and acknowledge and practice that "on occasion it is better to be deaf."
We won't have to go far into the day, whether it be in personal conversations or on the news or talk shows, before we will hear gossip, slander and other forms of malicious talk, aimed at bringing someone down and attempting to drag us into the fray and in doing so to drag us down. We are to hear to listen with discerning ears and acknowledge and practice that "on occasion it is better to be deaf."
Paul had some instructions for Timothy in 2 Timothy that apply and should be good advice to us in the current "fray". Avoid irreverent babble and when it comes to our speech may we "measure our words" (Proverbs 10:19 below)
2 Timothy 2:16 But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, English Standard Version (ESV)
In Christ,
Mike
Mike
Follow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com
Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace NIV
Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace NIV
Proverbs 10:17-19
The Message (MSG)
17 The road to life is a disciplined life;
ignore correction and you're lost for good.
18 Liars secretly hoard hatred;
fools openly spread slander.
19 The more talk, the less truth;
the wise measure their words.
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