"Whoever covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates close friends" (Proverbs 17:9).
I love the book of Proverbs because it doesn’t sugarcoat the truth about how we often act vs. how the Lord calls us to behave as believers. When someone wrongs us, what is our initial response to them? Do we call a friend to recount the story, absolving ourselves of guilt by labeling the conversation “healthy venting” rather than “gossip”? Or do we run to the Father in prayer, asking Him to heal us from the hurt and to soften our hearts and forgive the one who hurt us?
It takes a mere moment of reflection to realize I talked a whole lot about things I should have been praying about. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 says “pray without ceasing,” and James 5:6 reminds us that “the prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” We need to stop defaulting to gossip when we are wronged! “If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless.” (James 1:26).
Let’s start living in radical obedience to God’s word. Let’s foster harmony within the body of Christ by allowing the Holy Spirit to work in us so that we adhere to this Proverb!