Speak Well Of Others

Dr. Thamsing Lamkang *

"I'd prefer to say nothing about the referee but sometimes…" More than one famous football manager or president has said these words after the match, using them as a launch pad to shoot off a thousand and one things against the match referee or the officials!

It's unfortunate but true that we are generally very good at putting others down, at gossiping about friends and enemies alike-providing, of course, that they are out of earshot and can't defend themselves. It is a dangerous game in the context of sport because verbal violence can and does trigger to physical violence can and dose trigger physical violence. In fact, that is often its only outcome. It's these words which lie behind the riots (and crime) that we sometimes see on and off the field.

God says that gossiping is of the devil. In fact one of his names in scripture is 'accuser'. So when we accuse people we are being devilish. We can be very clever and devious in the way we go about speaking ill of others. Have you noticed? "But he's not the angel he appears to be you know that for sure. Did you know that…? 'Now don't go spreading this about but…', 'what! And you listen to her? Of only you already knew about it…its g-o-s-s-i-p-i-n-g-s!'

So, what comes out of our mouth? The Bible teaches that blessings and curses cannot spring from the same source. How on earth can we be cursing one of his children? And don't go saying you've never done this! Cursing simply means talking badly about someone you simply hated without any given reasons. Remember: we show what we're made of, of we can control our tongue; someone with a wagging tongue can never be loyal to others and even to God.

With our tongue we can tear a person to shreds; we can ruin their reputation, their friends, their family, even their works. And we think that's OK! Can't you see that God will hold us accountable for this? He says what we sow we shall also reap. So watch your back! Such words are boomerangs and increasingly destroying yours and others spiritual well beings! No. we cannot sin against God in this way and think it's all going to be OK, no it's not OK, but it's KO - Killing Others!

Jesus stood out so much in many people's minds because He went about sowing only the blessings. We should follow His example. 'To bless means to speak well of others to other people'! Can you speak well about someone you hated most? When you do that you know why you are doing this as a child of God! May the words of our mouths be a blessing to others! From the same mouth come blessings and coursings - Bible.

If you have nothing good to say, keep it to yourself! "He who gossips to you about others will gossip to others about you"!