Irresistible Tidbits

The wood burned to ash in the fireplace, so I put chunky logs on the grate in hopes that they would heat overnight and ignite quickly in the morning. But the next day, to my surprise, there were only ashes. What happened? As I poked in the ashes, hiding underneath the residue were red-hot embers—waiting for an opportunity to ignite.

Some people wait for prime moments to drop choice words for igniting juicy conversations. Many comments aren’t necessary with at least one willing listener. Gossipers who pass along such tidbits of information are character-slayers and sow discord. Scripture likens the words of talebearers as wounds and their character to broken pieces of a clay pot dipped in contaminated silver (Proverbs 26:23). The attractiveness and smooth talk of gossip come from damaged containers with tainted intentions.

How can we stop talebearers? Turn away from their enticing words: “Where no wood is the fire goeth out, so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.” (Proverbs 26:20). Choose to put the fire out before it begins. By doing so, you may cause them to rethink their actions, and they repent.