Posted on 09/20/2020 6:19:45 AM PDT by Pilgrim's Progress
“He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips” (Proverbs 20:19).
“He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets,” it seems like the only topic some people ever want to discuss is, “Did you hear about so-and-so?” That does not belong in polite society, let alone among Christians where we are to watch for one another and keep them safe. But they revel in anything that stirs up trouble and gets them an audience. It is a filthy, self-conceited tool for getting attention.
There is something to note about this passage: “He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets, therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.” Nine Times out of ten the talebearer is also a flatterer. Again, this is the guy that answers to the man in verse 18 that believes in order to win approval they need to tell people what they want to hear, even if it is evil news about a brother or sister in Christ. This person is nothing but a two-faced dog. When he is around you, he is smiling, but when your back is turned, he is a cutthroat.
Be careful of people who are always flattering you. Think about this the next time someone brings gossip about somebody else to you—if they are prone to bring gossip to you—you may well be next to be gossiped about to another ready listener. If you accept the gossip, look out, you are the next target.
“. . . meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.” Cut them off! It is better to just flat out tell them to take their stories someplace else. It is better to lose their companionship than to be a companion to a fool. It is best to tell them that if they have a problem with another Christian they are to follow the scriptural formula for resolving the problem: “Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican” (Matthew 18:15-17).
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