Saturday, September 23, 2006

LITTLE TWIN FOXES


(Catch us the foxes, The little foxes that spoil the vines, For our vines have tender grapes - Song of Solomon 2:15)


gossip
n :1. a report (often malicious) about the behavior of other people; 2.wag one's tongue; speak about others and reveal secrets or intimacies.


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

slander
n 1: words falsely spoken that damage the reputation of another 2: an abusive attack on a person's character or good name


Proverbs 10:18He who conceals his hatred has lying lips, and whoever spreads slander is a fool.

No, 'tis slander,
Whose edge is sharper than the sword, whose tongue
Outvenoms all the worms of Nile, whose breath
Rides on the posting winds, and doth belie
All corners of the world.

~William Shakespeare, "Cymbeline", Act 3 scene 4

So much thoughts are running through my mind right now and it's almost 2am! I guess I'm in a rather reflective and melancholic mood right now. Just heard some not so nice things...It is very sad when you happen to hear gossip or slander about a really good friend or a fellow coworker that you love and know very well. Worst of all, it is so poignant if you know the source. Still waters run deep.

I love the Book of Proverbs. It is so practical and it contains so much wisdom. It deals with every issue in life and definitely has lots to say about the topic of gossip and slander. Proverbs blatantly defines the slanderer as a fool! A very strong adjective indeed but really, how true it is. A slanderer defamers another, usually through gossips. What could some possible reasons be? Hmmm...
1. To elevate his/her status, be it in society or with another individual
2. Jealousy
3. A warped way of getting close to another friend (the listener).
4. Being unknowningly manipulated by the enemy to sow discord and unity and to bring discouragement to the slandered person.

Feel free to tag any other reasons u can think of.

Continuing on the subject, here's the irony in this whole process....instead of achieving what ever purpose he/she intended to achieve, the slanderer ends up showing how shallow he/she is!! How pathetic is that?! What a super LOW and lousy attempt to gain a friend and elevate one's status?

ok, as i said, many thoughts are running through my mind...I am well aware that i am in no position to cast any stones...I have planks in my own eye. We all have planks in our own eyes...I guess everyone has allowed these little twin foxes - gossip & slander in at some point in our lives or another. They may be cute and fun to have around for a while BUT in all seriousness, these twin foxes really are not exactly the pets to keep. They eventually destroy the fruit of the victim's vineyard. The fruit being character & testimony. And you know what? Our vineyard will NOT be spared too. Our reputation and testimony that we've taken YEARS to built will just go right down the toilet bowl in that very second.

And just remember, FOOL isn't the best nickname in the world to have.

Solution? Here's one from Proverbs 20:19 : AVOID a man (woman, boy, girl, teen, kid, adult, senior etc) who talks too much AND avoid talking too much. (Proverbs 10:19 -When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise.)

God, please help us all to be wise with our tongues and ears so that we minimize or better yet, totally avoid the damage we bring to another person's esteem and character and to our own testimony.

KILL THE LITTLE TWIN FOXES!!!
posted by WonderWomen on 1:23 AM

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