Proverbs 20:19. Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets; therefore, do not associate with a simple babbler.
There’s two admonitions for us in today’s proverb. First, we must heed the warning about our own speech. Second, we must heed the warning about those we associate with.
Are you a babbler? Are you a slanderer? Do you associate with babblers and slanderers?
The babbler doesn’t even try to monitor their words. They just say whatever comes to mind without any kind of filter. Eventually the babbler will say something hurtful or untrue about others.
Notice that the babbler is described as simple. You might remember that simple is the lowest form of fool in Proverbs. Everyone is born simple, but hopefully we become wise by the fear of the Lord. The simple person, however, doesn’t filter their words through the fear of God, and love for others. Because they are naïve, the simple person believes whatever they hear. Worse yet, the simple babbler believes and repeats whatever they hear, without considering the consequences.
We might give the simple babbler the benefit of the doubt that they are not trying to be malicious with their many words. The problem however is that soon the simple babbler becomes the slanderer.
The slanderer is not just a gossip like the babbler. The slanderer is far more poisonous. They’re intention is to hurt others with their secret telling. They collect information and use it for their own advantage.
Again, the warning is two-fold: are you a babbler becoming a slanderer? Do you associate with babblers and slanderers? It may be enticing to listen to their gossip and tales of the woes of others. But rest assured that the person who slanders others in front of you, will surely slander you in front of others.
But this kind of self-preservation is not our ultimate motivation for avoiding gossip and slander. Love is. The fear of the Lord leads to the love of neighbor. The person in Christ must ask themselves what attracts me to this kind of talk? Why do I listen to and share secrets? Why do I gossip and listen to gossip? Why do I talk too much? What need in my own heart am I trying to meet by listening to a slanderer? By being a slanderer?
Once you’ve identified that need (power, control, attention, fitting in), the question becomes will you allow Jesus to meet that need rather than the gossip. Christ in you, can and has met all of your deepest needs. Do you believe this? As you grow in this faith, Paul says that you can lay aside all unwholesome talk, and instead, say only what is edifying to the hearer.
Ephesians 4:29-32. 29Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. 30And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
When we have Jesus and his love for us, then we don’t have to help ourselves by hurting others, do we? We can be quiet, listen, keep secrets, and only say things that are true, kind and helpful.
You: Are you a babbler? A slanderer? Do you associate with those who are?
You in Christ: How does our union with Christ meet the deepest needs of our hearts?
Christ in you: How can knowing that our deepest needs are met allow us to forsake gossip, slander, and even simple babbling?
Pray: Jesus, you were slandered for my sake so that I would never have to become a slanderer. Teach me to let only what is good for the building up of others to leave my mouth. Amen.
To Live is Christ 