Bible Studies

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Your tongue can lead you to slander

Psalms 34:12

Keep your tongue from evil And your lips from speaking deceit.

New American Standard Version

This is an interesting verse to ponder on when I reflect on life. It brings me to a story about a young man who ran for office. This gentleman was working two jobs and going to college all at the same time. Going from one job to the next and finding time in between to attend school. This young man was running for office and received one day, invited to speak with his local newspaper on topics the reporter was asking each candidate. He received a letter in the mail and asked to reply via email to the reporters' questions. So he did and placed the best effort to answer each question. The reporter replied back and asked to speak on the phone with the gentleman to follow up on questions she still wanted to ask that were not on the email sent to him. Since he was working a lot, he felt he didn't have much time to speak with this reporter.

So he informed the reporter of that status but wanted to address them via email. Because it would be at late hours of the night to speak on the phone. Several weeks went by, the local paper issued a campaign edition of each candidate and race that were involved in that year's election. Excited, this young man purchased that day's newspaper to see his thoughts in the paper. When he read it, he noticed that the reporter had slandered him in changing words around that he never spoke or had any thought on. The reporter spoke evil and slandered him. Now, this young man has a temper that quickly can explode in a negative value. As he stopped himself from contacting the newspaper and voicing anger that would have damaged him so many ways.

He thought and felt that you can't challenge and fight with hate, as hate breeding hate never wins. He realizes that this individual had no fear of God and especially in their heart. For that young man to respond in hate, and he wouldn't have fear in God either. His relationship would have taken a blow as he would have disappointed God in responding with no love in his heart. Furthermore, this verse focused on the ability to live in peace with others and if possible, to build relationships with others. Also adding that it is possible to live a more peaceful life that is longer because of your interest to build instead of destroying others. In conclusion, the verse implies living in a lifestyle to encourage peace, but when dealing with others in a manner that is true.

It's one thing to strive to work out differences, but sometimes you can't. That is the purpose of this story, is to understand that sometimes it is best to walk away and be the better man or woman. Because that reporter would have responded more in hate in slandering him more and it is possible to the media, in this case, the local paper. Wouldn't have allowed for a rebuttal in given him the opportunity to respond back to the slander. That reporter's action was to provoke anger from that man to further damage his integrity. This ability requires deep thought in knowing what is the best way to respond back.....sometimes you can work things out, but sometimes you have to step back completely and leave it with God with no response in taking action what so ever. This is not an excuse for being cowardly, but gaining wisdom and knowing what is best as you ask God for direction to take. What words you speak, this verse implies to be truthful and honest to others. God bless my friends!

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