Dave's Diary

Prayer

God of the Gentle Whisper, whose words impart life, please speak to me through Your Word today . Amen.

Reading

Read Proverbs 11 slowly and prayerfully. Notice which verse particularly jumps out at you. Re-read that verse a few times slowly. Write it down in your journal. Try to memorise it so that you can reflect on it without having to read from the page.

Prayerful Reflection

Now take that Proverb and think about your life at the moment. Is there a situation in your life to which that Proverb applies. Ask the Lord how this verse from His Word is telling you to live out His wisdom in that situation. Make notes in your journal.

A Devotional Thought

Proverbs 11: 
¹³ A gossip betrays a confidence,
    but a trustworthy person keeps a secret. (NIVUK)

Knowing something that one has been told in confidence by (or about) someone is like having possession of treasure that belongs to them. To share that confidential knowledge with anyone else is like taking treasure out of a treasure chest belonging to another and giving it away. It is theft!

As I reflect on this, I find myself asking: What would motivate that? I suspect that the one holding the confidential information is tempted by the thought that there is something to be gained by revealing what they know to this third party. Perhaps it will add value or importance to me in their eyes? Perhaps it will help me forge a relationship or an alliance with this person? Whatever the temptation is, the motivation is always self-centred and never motivated by love for the other. To gossip, to slander, or simply to be a “tale-bearer” (as the older translations have it) is all about “information-trafficking”. It is gaining something for myself with something precious that actually does not belong to me and which I am supposed to keep safe.

So much pain has been caused in this world by those with loose lips. As those who wish to live our lives in a way that is pleasing to God, our calling is to keep a lock on our lips when it comes to the things we hold in confidence.This is the faithful and trustworthy way to live.

Prayer

God of Love, please deliver me from the power of temptation and fill me with Your own Spirit of Love, so that every word I speak will be carefully weighed before it leaves my lips, and so that I will be a blessing to others by never scattering the treasure that belongs to them. Amen.