"He that is void of wisdom despiseth his neighbour: but a man of understanding holdeth his peace." Proverbs 11:12
Do you pride yourself in being able to see through and expose the sins or weaknesses of others? Can you always find something negative to point out about an individual? If so, this proverb is speaking directly to you. Solomon tells us that what we might esteem as insight, wisdom, or discernment, quickly becomes foolishness when we speak negatively about others and their faults or flaws. This is most commonly called gossip or slander, and it occurs when we speak words that do not build others up or minister grace to our hearers concerning another person. The wise man, when he has the opportunity to gossip or slander, chooses instead to say nothing that would tarnish the character of another individual. Silence is better than slander, and grace trumps gossip. May we be aware and mindful of how we use our tongues’ today.