SINS OF THE TONGUE

Prov. 16:28

Morning Meditation 10/17/2012

"A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends."

The sins of the tongue is a socially accepted sin. The churches I have pastored would have excluded a drunk from its fellowship unless real repentance were shown. Yet when a Christian whispers against another brother or sister, we would never think of dealing with that sin in a disciplinary manner. Yet, the sins of the tongue can effectly ruin the reputation of a Christian brother or sister.

John Wesley was once preaching. He was wearing a bow tie with two long ends hanging down. A dear sister in the meeting saw nothing but the tie and never heard a word that Wesley preached. When the service was over, she went to him and said piously, “Brother Wesley, will you permit a little criticism? Your bow tie is entirely too long, and it is evidence of worldliness to me.”

Wesley said, “Have you a pair of shears?” Receiving the shears he gave them to her and said, “Now trim them down to suit yourself.” She reached over and clipped off the streamers and said, “Now that is much better.”

Then Wesley replied, “Do you mind letting me have those scissors? Please stick out your tongue. It is entirely too long and is an offense to me. Stick it out while I trim it down to size.”

Only a word of anger,

But it wounded one sensitive heart;

Only a word of sharp reproach,

But it made the teardrops start;

Only a hasty, thoughtless word,

Sarcastic and unkind;

But it darkened the day before so bright

And left a sting behind.

— Anon.

The words, “A froward man soweth strife,” describes a man bold to speak his opinion, and opinion is all that it is. It is not based on facts but on unfounded opinions. Matthew Henry says of this froward man: “In the lips of a slanderer and backbiter there is as a fire, not only to brand his neighbour’s reputation, to smoke and sully it, but as a burning fire to consume it. And how great a matter does a little of this fire kindle, and how hardly is it extinguished!”

The words, “sowing strife,” means to cause division among the brethren and produce factions in the church.

The words, “A whisperer separateth chief friends,” describes the damage that a gossiper can cause. The words, “chief friends,” means, “best friends.” It is amazing in a way. But just as Solomon says in this verse, one who starts a whisper campaign can actually separate the best of friends. This indicates that some of the professional whisperers are so good at creating a lie, or passing a lie on, can separate the best of friends.

A lady came forward in an invitation and told the preacher that she wanted to put her tongue on the altar. He said, “Lady, our altar is just 16 foot long. But we'll get as much of your tongue on it as we can!!!!!!”

A person who has used his tongue to carry divisive and false information needs to seek God's forgiveness just as surely as the sin of adultery needs forgiveness.

May the Lord bless these words to our hearts.

In Christ

Bro. White