Flee from Gossip!

A gossip betrays a confidence;
so avoid anyone who talks too much. (Proverbs 20:19)

One the surface, one should notice that the bible does not call the gossip, a gossiper. The gossip inculcates the act of gossiping into his or her whole nature. They are by their nature a *gossip*. These people go about their daily lives seeking to spread rumors, lies, innuendo, and deceit. They readily acknowledge the alleged sins and character flaws of those they would seek to impugn. The gossip does not edify, they assault. The gossip does not consider the other as greater than themselves rather they consider themselves as the right and proper arbiter of a truth that may be devoid of reality. How quickly even the Christian finds himself or herself engaged in such malicious and devilish tale bearing! Worse still, is when the Christian confronted with the foul nugget of gossip does not reprove its messenger and instead joins together himself and by extension Christ with the malice. Our Lord was silent before his accusers and yet his children rush headlong into accusation by enjoining our dear Lord with an unrestrained and odious breach of confidentiality and degradation of those whom God has created.

Wisdom resides in the restraint of the tongue. As it is written where words are many, sin abounds! Christians who are given to many words must guard against the sin implicit with verbosity. Words not weighed are found wanting, a loose tongue is much like the rattle of the snake so named, once the rattle begins the poison laden bite of gossip is not far behind. In the same way we avoid the snake by hearing its rattle so to we avoid the forked tongue of the gossip by moving away from those who talk too much. Our confession should be thus, though we are goaded often into gossip we flee from it by stilling our lips.

 

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We are Dogs!

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And she said, True, O Lord; but even the little dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ tables. (Mat 15:27) 

The exchange seems almost harsh. This woman comes to the Lord and worships him exclaiming ‘Lord, Help me!’ and yet the Lord rather than instantly commending her for her faith, further tests her profession. He says that it is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs. Our passage shows that she understood the Lord’s meaning, she understands that she is a Gentile. What part do we who by birth are not children but are more properly speaking dogs have with the Lord of Glory?

Her piety was on display for all to see. She openly acknowledges who she is, an undeserving Gentile who is not an heir to the promise. And yet she does not respond to the Lord as if there was an offense. She acknowledges her lowly condition and in her meekness the good deposit of faith is clearly demonstrated. The simplicity of her confession should not indicate that the wellspring of her faith was a shallow pool. Her faith was one of depth that acknowledged her depraved and sinful condition.

Bound up in her confession was the Sovereignty of God, and in her testing the love of God in election was clearly portrayed. That we would recognize the testing of our profession as evidence that while undeserving we are lovingly adopted by our Lord and King.

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Do Nothing

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Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than themselves. (Php 2:3) 

The contrast between the world and the church is seen no clearer in any other precept than the one offered in Philippians. Quite literally vainglory means self-conceit. This is the world’s first principle; exalt you. Popular culture considers self-esteem healthy and encourages a “positive self-image”. In disputations and strife our position is to be held stringently says the world.  I confess freely that at times of controversy my “natural” inclination is to preserve my own “glory” and to esteem myself better than others. 

And yet, the church is told to do nothing through strife and vainglory. All things in the church are to be done through humility. As Gill says the grace of humility is an excellent ornament to a Christian. I can not speak for anyone but myself; but I must confess that this precept is most difficult. I want to seek after my own glory, I want to protect my reputation, my knowledge, and I want to exalt myself. When we come together as the church the sweetest fellowship is to be had where there is humility and lowliness of mind, for we are no longer concerned with our glory only the Masters.

 May God grant us the grace of humility and kindly grant us lowliness of mind.

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Give us dry bread

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Better is a dry piece of bread, and quietness with it, than a house full of sacrifices with fighting. (Pro 17:1)

This passage illustrates the difference between two sorts of homes. The first home is one where there is only dry bread, that is to say stale bread. The second home is one that is teeming with the choicest foods, the finest entertainment, and the best of the best that the world has to offer.

The first home has quietness and contentment. The second home has strife and frivolous contention. Where the Holy Ghost resides there is peace and contentment. Where the spirit of this age resides there may be great material wealth but often this is wed to the most unholy strife and discontent.

John Gill quotes an associate who used to say: ‘brown bread and the gospel are good fare’. Indeed this is true. The heart where stayed by the Holy Ghost is like the first home. The needs are few as the Holy Ghost gives contentment and peace. The heart of the unbeliever is like the second home full of strife and yet desirous of the finest appointments but never content.

Even dry bread from the Lord’s table gives peace and contentment while the choicest foods from the world brings only strife and more fighting.

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