Here are my quirky connections for today’s scripture reading in Proverbs 26:20-23:
20 When you run out of wood, the fire goes out;
when the gossip ends, the quarrel dies down.
We, at the Shuff home, thoroughly enjoy hanging out around the firepit in our backyard. This past Friday night we gathered around the fire. At first it was difficult to sit in the chairs by the fire because it was so hot. The flames were high and the heat radiating from the pit was almost blistering. Tim had switched seats to one that was off from the distance. When I asked him why he moved away, he simply replied, “It’s too hot.”
Throughout the evening, as the fire would calm down and more wood was added to keep it going. At the end of the night we stopped adding wood to the fire, stopped stirring the coals around, and let it all die down so we could sleep safely with no worries of the ambers sparking another fire during the wee-hours of the night while we were sleeping.
Gossip is like the wood the was keeping the fire going. We need to let Tim’s example be good advice for us. When gossip it being said and spread, simply remove yourself from the situation and walk away because “it’s too hot.”
21 A quarrelsome person in a dispute
is like kerosene thrown on a fire.
“It’s like adding fuel to the fire.” Have you ever heard that expression? It is usually used when someone says or does something to make a bad situation even worse.
Some people thrive on being cantankerous. They enjoy “stirring the pot” (like another saying goes). My advice…stay away. Back off. Be kind. Treat people the way you want to be treated.
22 Listening to gossip is like eating cheap candy;
do you want junk like that in your belly?
Last week was Halloween. That means candy, candy, and more candy for all. One student in my class informed me the day of Halloween that I just may want to stay home the next day because he was going to be “off the chain” crazy at school due to all the candy he is going to eat. I replied back to him that he might need to be the one to stay home if he is going to indulge in all that candy because he will be sick to his stomach.
I’m no doctor, but too much candy will make one sick (at least that’s what my momma always told me growing up.)
Notice that in verse 22 you don’t even have to be the one “telling” the gossip news, but “listening” to it is enough to make you sick.
Hmmm, maybe that’s why in every grocercy store they have those “gossip” magazines next to the candy by the checkout counter. Just look away from those. And just move away from gossip close to your ears.
Stay away from gossip or it will make you sick.
So, no quarreling and no gossiping. You’ll be happier (and healthier).
Blessings to you.
| November 5, “Walking in the Word” |