Have you ever been entrusted with information or knowledge that you could not wait to tell to someone else? It may be good news, such as an upcoming birth, wedding, or new job opportunity. Some information may be given to you in confidence, and you tell someone, breaking that private confidence. Some things are shared as whispers and gossip, hurting others without knowing the truth of a matter. We teach our children in the song “Be careful, little mouth what you say,” indicating they should not use vulgar language. However, can we learn to watch what comes from our mouths as adults? James writes about the tongue, “Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison” (3:5-8).

The wise author of the Proverbs, with the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, gives warnings about what information we spread about others:

“A talebearer reveals secrets, But he who is of a faithful spirit conceals a matter” (Proverbs 11:13).
“A perverse man sows strife, And a whisperer separates the best of friends” (Proverbs 16:28).
“He who covers a transgression seeks love, But he who repeats a matter separates friends” (Proverbs 17:9).
“The words of a talebearer are like tasty trifles, And they go down into the inmost body” (Proverbs 18:8).
“He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets; Therefore do not associate with one who flatters with his lips” (Proverbs 20:19)
“Where there is no wood, the fire goes out; And where there is no talebearer, strife ceases” (Proverbs 26:20).

One of Paul’s fears about revisiting Corinth would be the fact that they have not corrected their behavior and he would have to discipline them, “For I fear lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I wish, and that I shall be found by you such as you do not wish; lest there be contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, backbitings, whisperings, conceits, tumults” (2 Corinthians 12:20). A careless whisper in the church promotes strife and division. Christians are called on by God to live above this kind of behavior, to speak kind words, and to speak encouraging words. Determine to watch what comes out of your mouth and say things that promote edification.

By: Justin Odom