Proverbs 26:20-22 Where there is no wood, the fire goes out; And where there is no talebearer, strife ceases. As charcoal is to burning coals, and wood to fire, So is a contentious man to kindle strife. The words of a talebearer are like tasty trifles, And they go down into the inmost body.
The key word in this Proverb is “talebearer.” A talebearer is one who tells tales; a gossip. It is also defined as one who is constantly stirring things up with their words.
As the Proverb warns, this will always cause strife and contention in a body of believers. The enemy strives to make talebearers as he plants thoughts of discord in the minds of God’s people. The Kingdom of God is meant to be a place of Peace. Jesus is the Prince of Peace and gave His Life on the Cross so we may have Peace in our lives.
Many believers stop going to church because of talebearers. To get caught up in this behavior is foolish. That’s why we find this Proverb in Chapter 26, which is a list, if you will, known as: The Arguments Of A Fool.
The Lord labels “fools” as anyone who does not know or live by the Word of God. The Bible is God’s standard for living a Righteous life. No one lives this way naturally. People are naturally sinful. We are all born with a sin nature. To sin is natural. To live Righteously is learned. Example: You don’t have to teach a child to lie. You teach them to tell the truth.
The enemy would like for every believer to be a talebearer because when trouble is constantly stirred up in a body of believers, we find the absence of Peace.
This includes gossip but is by no means limited to that. It also includes those who seek to cause trouble over literally anything. Sometimes things that appear to be trivial decisions can stir up a big problem and cause people to leave the church. Simple things like the color of the carpet or the brand of coffee pot in the kitchen.
A talebearer can also be that person who is always at odds with the rest of the body. That one who votes “no” when everyone else is in agreement and does everything he can to get people on “his side.” This is all the work of the enemy and the spirit of division.
Jesus is the Prince of Peace. He wants His Church to be in Peace. The Peace of God comes by way of the Blessed Assurance we have in our Salvation and the Presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Jesus prayed for the Body of Christ to be in unity; One as He and the Father are One. (John 17)
As we strive for unity, we must put all strife and contention aside and seek the Presence of God and His Peace. In the Name of Jesus, let us bind and cast out the spirit of division and contention, and allow the Righteous Spirit of Unity to bind us together as One, as Jesus and the Father are One.
The Prince of Peace can…...…..turn the tide
One with you, Doreen
