Introductory Thoughts
The Bible describes a talebearer as one that bears a tale or “revealeth secrets” (Proverbs 11:13; Proverbs 20:19). This type of sin is regretfully a plague amongst modern Christianity. The Lord warned the Israelites about this when He said, “Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people” (Leviticus 19:16). Although this was a command given to Israel, it is very much applicable to the church of God. Talebearers wound others (Proverbs 18:8; Proverbs 26:22) and stir up strife (Proverbs 26:20). They love to hear and pass on matters meant to remain private. In doing so, the talebearers viciously harm their own testimony along with the testimony of Christ. Sometimes silence truly is golden.
Devotional Thoughts
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(For children): Telling a tale implies something that is false. Always tell the truth (Ephesians 4:25). Even when you pass along true information about someone to a person who has no business knowing the information, you can lose friends (Proverbs 17:9) and harm others.
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(For everyone): Have you ever had someone reveal one of your secrets to another person? Were you harmed in any way when the secret was made known? What would be different had the secret remained a secret?
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Have you ever done the work of a talebearer? Have you repented for doing so? Have you apologized to those you hurt?
Prayer Thoughts
- Ask God to show you if you have hurt others with your words.
- Ask the Lord to help you forgive those who have hurt you.
Song
O TO BE LIKE THEE
