True Love Is Practical - "NEITHER IN WORD OR WITH THE TONGUE"

 Paul, telling how he used tact, says: "The rest of the Jews  also joined him  in putting on this pretense, so that even Barnabas was led along with them in their pretense. But when I saw they were not walking straight according to the truth of the good news, I said to Cephas before them all: 'If you though you are a Jew, live as the nations do, and not as Jews do, how is it that you are compelling people of the nations to live according to Jewish practice?" (Galatians 2:11-14, NW) Peter got the point but was not hurt.

The Proverbs sagely says:  "Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles." (Proverbs 21:23, AS)  That includes keeping the mouth and the tongue from gossiping about others, expecially backbiting and make adverse criticism about private, personal affairs of others, oftentimes judging others by one's own standards of measurement and not by the best interpretation of God's Word. Some, because the battle of Armageddon is so near, might lift their eyebrows and hands in a suge of horror at other brothers an sisters' getting married these days or at some married sister's getting pregnant.  But is such openly displayed, openly voiced horror based upon the right view and understanding of the Scriptures concerning these last days with Armageddon impending? No.  Generally the gossiper, the backbiter, hasty critic has what he said swing around back at him, and then there is trouble for him, trouble explaining , trouble in grief at seeing the harm he has done to those who have become offended at God's truth and organization. There is a practical way of avoiding such troubles:  Keep your mouth and your tongue and pen. 

Next time: True Love Is Practical - "NEITHER IN WORD NOR WITH THE TONGUE" 

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