Feeding Flames that Destroy - October 31 Readings: Jeremiah 10–12, 1 Timothy 4, Psalm 119:89–96, Proverbs 26:20–21

Links to October 31 Readings: Jeremiah 10–12, 1 Timothy 4, Psalm 119:89–96, Proverbs 26:20–21

Nothing like a good campfire in the chilled fall air, is there? A group of friends and family sitting around the crackling fire talking and roasting marshmallows to make smores. Makes for a great night. Of course, if you want to keep the fun going, you have to constantly add wood to the fire. The logs burn away and turn to dust, and if you don't feed the fire, it goes out.

Solomon told us that the same thing happens with gossip and quarrels. Look at the vivid pictures he draws in Proverbs 26:20-21.

For lack of wood the fire goes out,     and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases.As charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire,     so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.

He differentiates between two options on how to respond to quarrels. We all get upset, have spats, and argue. That quarreling is part of our fleshly nature and the Spirit works to replace it with love, patience and kindness. But it is still a reality in our lives. But how we respond to those quarrels is the key.

When a quarrel blazes to life, there is a simple solution. Don't feed it. The fuel for a fire is wood. The fuel for a quarrel is gossip. When we involve others in the quarrel, when we spread rumors, gossip, and slander concerning the issue, when we take sides, we add fuel to the fire. A small flame can then become a conflagration that destroys families, divides churches and hurts people. That's what happens when you let gossip fuel the fire.

Better to just let it go, let it die. The Spirit of God can give the redeemed the power to do that, to turn our hurts and griefs over to him instead of spreading them around with gossip and slander. Blessed are the peacemakers, Jesus said. A large part of peacemaking is simply not to share gossip and fuel the fires of anger.

Father, help me to be a peacemaker, not one who feed fires with my tongue. May the Spirit control my tongue and may it praise you and bless the Body of Christ.