Love... Does Not Dishonor Others

You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not stand up against the life of your neighbor: I am the Lord.

Leviticus 19:16 (ESV)

A dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends.

Proverbs 16:28 (ESV)

Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets, but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered.

Proverbs 11:13 (ESV)

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.

Ephesians 4:29 (ESV)

Rumors. Smut talk. Smack talk. Small talk. Smear talk. Hate talk. Mean jokes. Gossip. Slander. Scandal. Defamation. Ruined reputations.

Our morbid fascination with wrecked lives is like traffic slow-downs, watching wrecked cars. Bad news is alluring in the worst way.

Why?

  • When we look at other people's problems, we avoid the pain of seeing our own.

  • When we comment on their dirty laundry, we postpone the work of cleaning our own.

  • When we spread “juicy” and negative news, we can become “popular reporters”.

I used to wonder what the Bible meant by evil eyes (or eyes filled with darkness). Consider one hard interpretation:

The eyes of our soul can become evil… when we focus on the worst in others. The darkness gets darker by sharing it!

'Rumors are dainty morsels that sink deep into one's heart' (Proverbs 18:8).

'He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first' (John 8:7).

'Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand (Romans 14:4).

Actors, Models, and Talent for Christ:

Avoid the gossip mills of Hollywood. More pointedly, avoid them in churches! Dishonoring others dishonors us.

Love… Does NOT Dishonor Others (Part 15)

NOTE: God is my Ghostwriter. If what I write is good, it’s from God! We’re all called to be actors (action stars) for Jesus. We’re all called to models of Jesus, and we all have gifts, talents, and a commission to multiply them in the world for His glory.

P.S. NO DEVOTION, PREACHER, or SERMON… can begin to replace personal time in the Bible. I wholeheartedly and clear-headedly recommend DAILY BIBLE READING.

WARNING: Don’t focus on your favorite verses, because taken out of context, they’re often misinterpreted. I plead with you to READ AT LEAST 1 BIBLE CHAPTER DAILY. How long does it take? An average of 5 to 10 minutes!

Carey Arban