Quenching Quarrels

Read Proverbs 26

Fire goes out without wood, and quarrels disappear when gossip stops.

Proverbs 26:20

Solomon must have had considerable experience with gossip, if the number of proverbs dealing with the subject is any indication. Likening gossip to fuel is a powerful image and speaks to the destructive effects of idle talk.

A quarrel suggests that communication is impaired and trust is harmed, if not broken entirely. Such is also the nature of gossip, as the one talked about can no longer trust the gossiper with information. Some who gossip are unaware of the ill effects of their words. We may be aware of arguments, but we need to examine our part in “fueling the fire.” If we guard our tongues and use our speech for good, we may be surprised as the animosity level goes down and the trust level between and among people goes up. Without the fuel of gossip, even the presence of small sparks of disagreement need not lead to a conflagration of argument.

A WORD FOR TODAY

Gossip is the oxygen that feeds the fire of arguments.

Today, Lord, help me speak positively of others . . . or not at all.