A diabolical sin

Saturday February 19, 2022

A diabolical sin

Behold, how a small fire can set a great forest ablaze ! The tongue is also a fire. James 3:5,6

A pious man is dying. John, his friend, asks his forgiveness for having, for a long time, said false things against him. The patient listens to him and forgives him. Jean then asks him what he can do to fix it. The patient makes him a singular proposal :

Take that feather pillow, go upstairs, and empty it out the window.

John carries out his mission and brings back the empty pillow envelope.

Well, said the dying man, something more, and I'll be happy. Take this envelope and go collect all the feathers that were in it.

But of course, the wind had scattered them...

After a moment, John understands and looks down. He looks at his friend who says to him again : “You see, John, it’s the same thing with slander ; the words are spoken quickly and they spread far and wide. And when you want to repair the harm you have done, it is no longer possible, it is too late ! I leave without any bitterness against you, I have forgiven you, but the harm your slander has caused me is irreparable.

In the original, the word translated slanderer, in the epistle to Timothy, derives from the Greek “diabolos” the devil, the one who slanders, who divides. When we speak of the devil, we could replace this word with the slanderer.

In many countries, a lawsuit can be brought against a slanderer. Found guilty, he must, if he can, compensate his victim for the moral damage caused.

In the kingdom of God, slander should not exist, since the Lord Jesus teaches us to speak only true words, filled with love. The feelings and thoughts of the children of God - from which their words flow - are normally those of their Father, characterized by truth, love and goodness. So what a scandal when a Christian slanders someone and especially his brother, a member of the family of faith !

If we are aware of the grace of God towards us, we will immediately condemn any thought of accusation towards anyone and, in particular, against a redeemed of the Lord.

Source (Pleasing the Lord)