Sticks and Stones

Sticks and Stones (Read Proverbs 11:9-15)

"Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people." ~ Eleanor Roosevelt

Do you love to gossip? Would people consider you a gossiper? What about God? 

Sticks and stones do break bones, and name-calling does ruin people's lives.   

I don't know if there is even a close second, but it's hard to argue that the human organ known as the tongue isn't the ultimate weapon of mass destruction that has ever existed. It's caused more heartache and destroyed more lives than bullets and bombs. People can't help themselves; that's where nicknames like sly tongue, sharp tongue, and tart tongue earned their stature. And topping the list, "If you can't say something nice about somebody, then don't say anything at all." There has never been a person in history who, at some point, wished they wouldn't have said this or that or just kept their mouth shut.  

Our egos, led by pride and fear, cause us, at times, to fail to filter our thoughts and allow toxic language to spew right off our tongues. What makes it even worse is that half the time, we never know if what we so readily share is even true; often, what we share is merely secondhand news at best, but shared as if we were there, and it was the gospel truth. God despises gossip, lies, and sly tongues because the ripple effect they produce rips through the lives of people like an F4 twister.

⁹ With their words, the godless destroy their friends,
    but knowledge will rescue the righteous.

¹⁰ The whole city celebrates when the godly succeed;
    they shout for joy when the wicked die.

¹¹ Upright citizens are good for a city and make it prosper,
    but the talk of the wicked tears it apart.

¹² It is foolish to belittle one's neighbor;
    a sensible person keeps quiet.

¹³ A gossip goes around telling secrets,
    but those who are trustworthy can keep a confidence.

¹⁴ Without wise leadership, a nation falls;
    there is safety in having many advisers.

¹⁵ There's danger in putting up security for a stranger's debt;
    It's safer not to guarantee another person's debt.

"Don't tell me what was said about me. Tell me why they were so comfortable to say it to you." ~ Jay-Z

With the rise of social media, it's never easier to spew toxicity by hiding behind pixels and screens and reposting stories, reels, and TikTok videos. There is little discernment, fact-finding, or checking of our emotions at the door before clicking the mouse. We get emotionally fired up and click, click, and send. We are sure we possess the truth; everyone must hear what we say. Those who oppose our views and opinions are merely idiots, foolish, dangerous, and at times even inhumane. We live in a divided nation and polarized world because most of us fail to practice the spiritual principles presented in today's Scripture.

We are in the heat of election season, so it doesn't take much to get charged up and become eager to vomit out our "truth" at the expense of others, our nation, and the world. We are all links in the chain, either strong or weak, and there is no in-between. If we gossip, spread unvetted views and opinions, and become purposely divisive, we are weak links, and liberty and justice for all are compromised.

You are encouraged to be a vital link, a peacemaker, and a hope dealer. The world needs you to be, and God needs you to be. He commands us as followers to adhere to his design for living and practice his spiritual principles in all our affairs. To protest for justice is deeply biblical, but demonizing those who oppose your views is not; Jesus said, "Love your enemies." If you speak, make sure it's accurate and necessary. If it's not building somebody up, it's tearing them down and causing permanent damage to countless people and division that ripples worldwide.

May God bless your reflection, understanding, and application of today's wisdom.