‘Discretion will preserve you.’ Proverbs 2:11 NKJV
We’ve all said the wrong thing, at the wrong time, to the wrong person, and ended up regretting it. A pastor was being honoured at a retirement dinner, and a local politician had been asked to make a speech. The politician was running late so the pastor decided to say a few words: ‘When I came here twenty-five years ago I thought this was a terrible church. The first man I talked to said he’d stolen, lied, embezzled, had an affair and done drugs. I was appalled. Then I realised everybody isn’t like that; this church is filled with good people.’ Just then the politician arrived and stood up to speak: ‘I’ll never forget the day the pastor arrived and I had the privilege of being the first church member to talk to him.’ Loose lips sink ships! The Bible says: ‘Discretion will preserve you.’ Being discreet means having the ability to keep sensitive information private – including things you may have heard years ago! The writer of Proverbs said, ‘He who is trustworthy conceals a matter’ (Proverbs 11:13 NAS), and in the New Testament Paul cautions believers about discussing ‘things not proper to mention.’ (1 Timothy 5:13 NAS) Divulging what you know about other people’s problems and failures may make you feel good momentarily, but afterwards it has a predictably negative impact on the relationship. Plus, you get a reputation as a person who can’t be trusted. A wise man said, ‘If your lips would keep from slips, five things observe with care: of whom you speak, to whom you speak, and how, and when, and where.’ That’s advice you would do well to pay attention to!
SoulFood: Josh 19:24-21:45; Luke 20:20-26; Ps 112; Pro 23:13-15
The Word for Today is authored by Bob and Debby Gass and published under licence from UCB International Copyright 2014
