By Their Fruits You Will Know Them. Proverbs 25-26; First John 2

May the mumbling commence!

What are the fruits of foolish, unwise speech?  Read from Proverbs chapter twenty-six:

Yanking a dog's ears is as foolish as interfering in someone else's argument. 

Just as damaging as a mad man shooting a lethal weapon 

is someone who lies to a friend and then says, "I was only joking." 

Fire goes out for lack of fuel, and quarrels disappear when gossip stops. 

A quarrelsome person starts fights as easily

as hot embers light charcoal or fire lights wood. 

What dainty morsels rumors are—

but they sink deep into one's heart. 

Smooth words may hide a wicked heart,

just as a pretty glaze covers a common clay pot. (Verses 17-23)

It’s asking for trouble to interfere in other peoples’ business.  Stay out of it.  We do not know enough to solve the situation, so we are more than likely to make it worse for them and for us.

Lying to a friend as a “joke” is no better than wanton violence with a lethal weapon.  So let’s we truthful in our friendships… or we cannot wail and bemoan the violence of our society.

And then there’s the rumor mill and the gossip corner.  Rumors and gossip are sure to light a damaging fire.  Keep quiet and keep away and the embers will die out.  Give rumors and gossip any leeway and you will fan the dying embers into a roaring and destructive fire.

And finally, watch out for smooth words that seem to be too good to be true.  Likely they are not true.  Rottenness can hide behind a pretty glaze of smooth words.

So be careful.  Foolish and unwise speech can be lethal as a forest fire run amok.  The power of speech is deceptive.  Don’t be fooled!

Cover over all this garbage with love.  Read from First John chapter two:

Dear friends, I am not writing a new commandment, for it is an old one you have always had, right from the beginning. This commandment – to love one another – is the same message you heard before.  Yet it is also new. This commandment is true in Christ and is true among you, because the darkness is disappearing and the true light is already shining. 

If anyone says, "I am living in the light," but hates a Christian brother or sister, that person is still living in darkness.  Anyone who loves other Christians is living in the light and does not cause anyone to stumble.  Anyone who hates a Christian brother or sister is living and walking in darkness. Such a person is lost, having been blinded by the darkness. (Verses 7-11)

You have heard it said that “Love is blind”.  But I say to you “Hate is blind”.  May we open our eyes and learn to love even the most unlovable people.

Enough mumbling for now…

Peace Out