A man that bears false witness against his neighbor is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow. (Proverbs 25:18)

A trumpeter was once captured by the enemy. He pleaded with his captors: “Please spare me! I have no gun. I am not guilty of any crime. I have not killed a single one of your soldiers. I only carry this poor brass trumpet and play it when I’m told to!”

“That’s why we’re putting you to death,” his captors replied. “While you do not fight yourself, your trumpet stirs up all the others to battle and that causes them to kill!”

So it is with our criticism of others. We may not hate, mistrust, or avoid the person we criticize, but our criticism can stir others to manifest these feelings and behaviors.

There once was a woman to whom gossip and criticism was so utterly distasteful that whenever a visitor brought up something negative about a person, she would immediately say, “Come, let’s go and ask if this is true or not!” The tale-bearer was always so taken aback that he or she would beg to be excused. But the determined woman would insist on escorting the reluctant soul to the subject of the tale to verify its truth or to hear the other point of view. After awhile, no one repeated a tale or voiced a criticism in her presence!

Build up your friends...don’t tear them down.

God of Justice, help us to hold our tongue concerning those around us, lest we fall under Your judgment!