Proverbs 26:20 ¶ Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out:
so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth. 21 As coals are to burning
coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife. 22 The words
of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the
belly.
A
talebearer will reveal anything you’ve said to them in private to the people
you didn’t want to hear what you said. They will tell things about you that you
didn’t even know they knew to other people. A talebearer is a gossip. Whereas a
false witness makes things up about you a talebearer may be telling the truth
but it is your business, not theirs, that they are telling.
Proverbs
11:13 A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth
the matter.
But, they
can’t keep a fire going if there is no fuel so don’t be the wood for a
talebearer’s effort to start trouble. Refuse to listen to them. Let them know
with your demeanor, your looks, and your words that you aren’t going to play
along. God wants you to discuss a person’s private business only with them and
not to make it known to others.
Proverbs
25:9 Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself; and discover not a secret to
another:
In these
verses a talebearer is linked to a man of contention. A contentious man starts
trouble. He even does good things out of a bad spirit.
Philippians
1:15 Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good
will: 16 The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add
affliction to my bonds: 17 But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the
defence of the gospel.
We can see
how in the verse in Philippians how contentious people are linked with envy and
strife and how in Proverbs they are linked with talebearers. We know that a
talebearer will not only reveal your personal business but will misrepresent
your intentions and your words. They constantly stir up trouble. Remove a
talebearer from the congregation and you will remove much trouble. Sadly, some
talebearers can make themselves an essential part of the church body and
thereby split a church when they are revealed and exposed.
Proverbs 18:8 ¶ The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and
they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
Don’t
listen to a talebearer. Simply tell them you don’t want to be a part of their
sin. Of course, then you’ll quickly become the object of their work for the
Devil. But, refusing to hear them will be something that shows that you have an
understanding of what it takes to be a Christian.
Proverbs 26:23 ¶ Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a
potsherd covered with silver dross.
Commentators like Henry make two applications to
this verse. Both have to do with the first part. One application he makes which
goes well with the next verses is that, and I’m paraphrasing, lips that profess
love, loyalty, faith, friendship, and allegiance with a passion and fire but
coming from a false, wicked heart are like a broken piece of pottery covered
with the castoffs of the process of refining silver.
Dross is defined in such a way in the following
verses;
Psalms 119:119 Thou puttest away all the
wicked of the earth like dross: therefore I love thy testimonies.
Proverbs 25:4 Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a
vessel for the finer.
Isaiah 1:22 Thy silver is become dross, thy wine mixed with water:
The silver looks good from a distance but up
close you realize that it’s just pretty trash covering a broken piece of
pottery. Such is the profession of someone who claims with tears and much
emotion that they have trusted Christ as their Saviour but when God examines
them closely it’s just a phony profession. I am very wary of politicians and
those who seek power over the lives and money of the populace and constantly
talk about how God has told them to run for office. I have often wondered why
we can’t have a debate where we try to find out who God told first. (Just
joking.)
Jesus warned about false prophets, who may be
preachers in our context as “to prophesy” can mean to not only foretell but
“forth tell” as in preaching God’s word, or even regular Christians in Matthew.
Matthew 7:15 ¶ Beware of false prophets,
which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs
of thistles? 17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a
corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil
fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19 Every tree that
bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20
Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
21 ¶ Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom
of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many
will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and
in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23
And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that
work iniquity.
When I first joined an Independent Fundamental Baptist
church I thought everyone would be like Dr. Ruckman; folksy with common sense,
human but with good intentions, a plain understanding of the Scriptures, and
desiring to draw people closer to Christ through God’s words in His Bible
knowing that not everyone will agree with everything he says and not being too
concerned about it. You’d never see him in the main stream news telling people
how to vote or throwing his support to one candidate or another, marching down
the street against abortion with his arm around a Catholic priest, or trying to
have a “revival” meeting in the park across from the White House for the
cameras. I heard him say things like “if you have to work a shift on Sunday
morning don’t get too upset, you can come to church on Sunday night or
Wednesday”, and “not my own children or any of my students believe everything I
believe so I’m not a very good cult leader if you accuse me of running a cult”,
“I may have to apologize to a bunch of people at the Judgment Seat of Christ. I
doubt it, but I might have to”, and also “there is nothing more ridiculous
looking than a woman trying to ride a horse in an ankle length dress or in a
canoe that’s overturning. Use some common sense folks.” (I’m reciting those
from memory so they aren’t perfect quotations.)
I have been disappointed to see that there are
many in the pulpits across the land who have a personal agenda, who twist the
Bible, and who desire to control the congregation for their own purpose,
drawing them away from Christ and to that preacher. It is really apparent to me
that there are a lot of Christians in America in positions of religious and
political authority who, from a distance and hearing their professions of faith
appear to be passionate Spirit filled Christians who want to turn the nation back
to Christian values and principles but, upon closer examination have an agenda
where they are using God for a purpose, like a broken piece of pottery covered
with glittery trash draws you to it. They look and sound genuine from a
distance but up close they don’t bear up to much scrutiny.
Burning professions of faith with a wicked heart
are like a broken piece of pottery covered with silver dross. Look very closely
at those people on TV, your computer, and phone, folks. Look very closely and
compare what they say with the Bible’s clear admonitions to Christians. Don’t
be deceived.
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