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Theme: THE IMPORTANCE OF THE WORD OF GOD
Text: “If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.” – James 1:26.
Comment: As Christians we should be open to advice, we should not be rude to people, especially elders. (Proverbs 15:22; Colossians 4:6; 1 Timothy 5:2) Believers should see themselves as partners in progress, and avoid the temptation of talking down on those who happen to be of lower status in the world. (Romans 12:16) They should not be talkatives, or gossips, who have no qualms spreading even confidential matters to everybody who cares to listen. Some even slander others, that is give themselves to “saying something false or malicious that damages somebody’s reputation”.
Those who are flippant and try to win the friendship of others through tale-bearing are knowingly or unknowingly destroying when they should be helping to build. (Leviticus 19:16; Proverbs 11:13; Galatians 2:18) Definitely, matters will come to a point where people, knowing that the person cannot keep secrets, will not entrust confidential matters to him. (Proverbs 20:19) And, if in course of time, they know that the so-called brother had been colouring the information he had been giving them, they will not believe him again. So serious is the matter of slander that St. Paul laid down the rule that those who should be appointed deacons must “be grave, not doubletongued,…” and that their wives should also “be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things”. (1 Timothy 3:8, 11) He also stated that the behavior of the aged women should be “as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things”.- Titus 2:3.