Where there is no whisperer, quarrelling ceases. – Proverbs 26:20
How many stories can be told about Thanksgiving dinners going awry when relatives gather together? An innocent question, such as, “how’s Mary doing?” may end up with a long dialogue about Mary, resulting in gossip and a plethora of hurt feelings. Gossip is a sin that most everyone partakes in, but few admit to. There’s a game called “Chinese Whispers,” “Telephone,” or “Gossip.” One person whispers into a second person’s ear, second to third, and so on until the last person reveals what was said. It’s usually a far cry from the beginning message.
This Thanksgiving pay attention to not what only goes in your mouth (turkey, stuffing, cranberries) but what comes out of it (compliments, encouragement, slander, criticism). Jesus said, “It is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person” (Matthew 15:11). The apostle Paul says, “Let no corrupt talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear” (Ephesians 4:29).
America suffers under a heavyweight of malicious words. Now with the internet and social media, gossip can carry around the world in a matter of seconds. Pray for this nation to recover from the divisive rhetoric that has spread. All things are possible with God. Echo the prayer of the Psalmist, “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer” (Psalm 19:14).
Today’s Verse: Proverbs 26:20
For lack of wood the fire goes out,
and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Recommended for further reading: Matthew 15:10-20
10 And he called the people to him and said to them, “Hear and understand: 11 it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.” 12 Then the disciples came and said to him, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?” 13 He answered, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be rooted up. 14 Let them alone; they are blind guides. And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.” 15 But Peter said to him, “Explain the parable to us.” 16 And he said, “Are you also still without understanding? 17 Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is expelled? 18 But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. 19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. 20 These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone.”
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
