“For lack of wood the fire goes out,
And where there is no whisperer, contention quiets down. ”
Proverbs 26:20 (NASB)
The English poet Thomas Carlyle wrote that “speech is silver; silence is golden “. Silence in fact can be an invaluable weapon against the strife caused by gossip. As Christians, we are called to be peacemakers (Mt. 5:9). One way to maintain peace in our relationships and among our churches is to avoid repeating gossip that sometimes is masked as a “prayer request” or a concern. When there is conflict, we are reminded not to add fuel to the fire but rather to use silence to help put it out.
Questions for application…
What does the Proverb mean by a “whisperer” ?
Why is it important to avoid repeating gossip within the church ?
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