August 19, 2024 – Secrets Are To Be Secret

Secrets Are To Be Secret
August 19, 2024

DAILY PROVERB:

Proverbs 20:16-19
Take his garment that is surety for a stranger: and take a pledge of him for a strange woman. Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel. Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war. He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

    Sometimes, it can be quite tempting to share someone’s secrets. It’s as if you can’t wait to reveal what you know. However, as a Christian, after you do share, you might question whether it was a wise choice. Did my sharing actually benefit anyone?

    Did sharing help the person I was talking about, or did it further tear them down, especially when they might already be going through a difficult time?

   Did it benefit the person I confided in, or did it simply start a gossip cycle? They might misinterpret what I said, leading to a distorted version of events that never occurred.

    Lastly, did it truly benefit me? Did it make me appear trustworthy in the eyes of the person I was sharing with? Will they feel comfortable confiding in me when they have their own problems, or will they see me as a busybody who can’t be trusted with their valuable information?

   A person who frequently engages in talebearing usually only scratches the surface of the truth, missing out on the deeper truths for which they could pray or provide counsel. Additionally, we should remember that the information we hear about others may not always be accurate; it could originate from a deceitful source with ill intentions. We must learn to keep the stories we hear about one another close to our hearts and not let them slip from our lips.

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

   The good news is that if you feel like you can’t hold it in any longer and just have to tell someone, there is someone who can make a difference and is waiting for you to talk to Him: God. He already knows what really happened, understands the hearts of the people involved, and alone knows how to make a genuine difference. Take it to Him, and Him alone.

What do you do with a friends information?

IF YOU ARE JOURNALING:

Ask yourself, what are MY THOUGHTS concerning this Passage, and todays Devotion?

Do I find within this reading a CHALLENGE for my life?

What are one or two things I WILL DO today or this week to accept that CHALLENGE?

  

GOD TALKING TO ME: August 19, 2024

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH A DAILY PROVERBS
  Jeremiah 34 – Jeremiah 38
  Proverbs 20:16 – 19

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Psa. 78-79
  Rom. 12