WATCH WHAT YOU SAY ABOUT PEOPLE

Dear Believer,

One of the ways to judge a man’s character is the readiness with which he believes evil reports about others.

In this world of abundant [mis]information, it takes a man of solid character to verify before broadcasting.

Why should YOU be the one to spread evil information about other people?

Men of little mind can only feel big by destroying the reputation of others. My ancestors had a saying: “A man digging a pit for his enemy should be careful not to dig it too deep, for he may end up falling in it!” Even if you dislike a person and you find it difficult to be fair to him, try to be fair to your conscience.

I am particularly concerned about those who profess to be Christians and still find nothing wrong in propagating news and rumors which they have not verified. Idle words shall be severely judged, said Jesus, and I believe only men with idle minds peddle idle words about others.

It is a grievous sickness of the mind that makes a man to hungrily lap up the verbal vomits of unscrupulous liars who neither fear God nor love humanity.

It matters not whether it be in politics, relationship or ministry, if a person loves to hear evil and propagate it, especially without proving its veracity, he lacks character and his mind needs healing. 

It is a grievous sickness of the mind that makes a man to hungrily lap up the verbal vomits of unscrupulous liars who neither fear God nor love humanity.

Believer, let us think on the following verse today:

The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly. (Proverbs 18:8 KJV).

Words can grievously would people.

Fabricating total lies or embellishing half-truths to ruin others cannot go unpunished.

There is a generation, whose teeth are as swords, and their jaw teeth as knives…
(Proverbs 30:14) … [whose] tongue deviseth mischiefs; like a sharp razor, working deceitfully and lovest evil more than good; and lying rather than to speak righteousness. (Psalm 52:2-3 KJV)

Some people slander others and think it’s a joke. They put lies or exaggerated information on blogging sites, negatively embellishing stories just so they can attract web traffic. Let them know that it all doesn’t end here. Judgement is coming to those who destroy others with words because of filthy profit. There is judgement waiting for talebearers and those who delight in idle tales.

Jesus said, “The word that I speak to you, they are spirit, and they are life.” (John 6:63). If you claim to belong to Jesus, and your words (verbal or written) are not ‘spirit and life,’ you have no business speaking or writing at all.

Believer, your Lord says to you:

Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers . (Ephesians 4:29).

Not only that, you must make it a Christian duty to let lies or damaging words stop when they get to you. Neither encourage nor be an accomplice of someone who propagates lies or destroys others with unfounded information.

Do not spread damaging information, even if they are true. If you don’t feed the fire of vicious rumors with the fuel of acceptance, it goes out.

Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth. Proverbs 26:20.

Have a beautiful day!

Your friend,
Deon.