Bible Nugget #99 Fuel for the Fire
Proverbs 26:20 Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.
"Double, double toil and trouble, fire burn and cauldron bubble."
As a scene from Macbeth where the 3 witches are stirring in their poisonous concoctions into the boiling kettle too often we have those who are not happy unless they are stirring up trouble and strife within the Christian community.
The Church is under grievous attack from those who cannot stand the witness of the gospel in the world. Among the evil of this world is the belief the Christian doctrine must be destroyed if the world is to be free from it's restraints. To this end the Church is under attack from within and without. Sometimes well intentioned but otherwise careless Christians will repeat unfounded gossip or gossip that is a half truth.
People's lives are often destroyed by this loose tongued bearing of tales. Many times however it is the malicious intended planting of a story that does the evil work. It is mpossible most of the time to trace down the source and nearly impossible to undo the damage. This is the result of the deadly fire of the tongue that will not be tamed. (James 3:6-7)
David was often faced with such and wrote of it in
Psalm 64:2-4 "Hide me from the secret counsel of the wicked; from the insurrection of the workers of iniquity: 3 Who whet their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words: 4 That they may shoot in secret at the perfect: suddenly do they shoot at him, and fear not."
Witness the current attacks on the vice presidential nominee. Whether you are for her or against her no one should be subjected to such twisted tactics and underhanded accusations as she faces. Outright lies which a few years ago would bring shame are proudly spread but a media that does not even try to hide their bias anymore. The middle part of Psalm 64 speaks of this: Psalm 64:5-6 They encourage themselves in an evil matter: they commune of laying snares privily; they say, Who shall see them? 6 They search out iniquities; they accomplish a diligent search: both the inward thought of every one of them, and the heart, is deep.
Prover 26:20 above correctly states the fire will continue to burn as long as the wood is there as fuel. Just as wood fuels the fire the talebearer fuels strife. The remedy of course is to remove the wood from the fire and it will go out. Quite simple. Much more difficult if not impossible is to remove the gossip and spiteful spreader of lies.
David's remedy was to pray that God would hide him from those who would do malicious harm. Maybe the individual Christian, as well as the Church's only remedy is fervent prayer to be delivered from the harm caused by the tongue and pen. In the last part of Psalm 64 we find written the solution when we trust God:
Psalm 64:7-10 But God shall shoot at them with an arrow; suddenly shall they be wounded. 8 So they shall make their own tongue to fall upon themselves: all that see them shall flee away. 9 And all men shall fear, and shall declare the work of God; for they shall wisely consider of his doing. 10 The righteous shall be glad in the LORD, and shall trust in him; and all the upright in heart shall glory.
May I present Dan Rather's fall as evidence of the truth of the above verses. May God grant that other's soon follow!! Author: Hillbilly
