Devotions: Is Sharing Caring?

For lack of wood the fire goes out,
And where there is no whisperer, contention quiets down.

Proverbs 26:20 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

In James the tongue is compared to a spark that sets a forest on fire. If we don’t speak, we can’t start a blaze. Troubles will calm down and be resolved if we will watch our words. Of course, conflict needs to be dealt with, but it needs to be done in a godly manner. Flying off the hook and speaking in anger will only make matters worse. Dealing with conflict also requires talking to that person not about them. So many issues could be easily resolved if people would deal with and be done rather than spouting off about their problems to everyone with an ear. That is what this verse refers to as a “whisperer”, a gossip. Someone who tells people things they don’t need to know. There are times when we need to seek counsel, but often we are just trying to vent. We don’t really want to be told how to deal with it, we just want to “get it off our chests” and let others know how we have been wronged. That approach only makes the issue worse, both between two people but also in our hearts. It cements the hard feelings rather than allowing them to heal. If we would deal with troubles and conflict in a godly manner and watch our words, we would have far less conflict. What fires are you starting with your words, verbally spoken and online? Where do you need to be silent when you want to speak? To whom should you not talk to about it? Ask God to help you deal with conflict in a way which honors Him.

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