Evil-speaking is unnecessarily, and with a wrong motive, or no good motive, telling what is true, but evil, about a person. Evil-speaking is words which tend to hurt those of whom or against whom they are spoken.
If a person unnecessarily, and with no good motive, indulges in detraction and disparagement or speaks of others as mean, selfish, untruthful etc., even though they think it to be true, it is evil-speaking.
The Bible does not say, "Confess other people's faults," but "Confess your faults one to another." If we do a thing that is mean, wrong, or evil, do we tell it to others? We should not not tell other people's faults any more than our own.
Evil-speaking is contrary to the Golden Rule, unless you enjoy others telling the faults or evil they know or think about you.
"Speak evil of no man," is as positive a command of God as "Thou shalt not steal." Evil-speaking is a sin against self, society, the one defamed, the one informed, and also against God and His Word.
Evil-speaking is the natural outcome of harboring and indulging a critical disposition. The sin generally proceeds from depraved human dispositions, such as jealousy, envy, anger, conceit, ill-will, resentment, spiritual pride, indignation not righteous, or lack of love.
Evil-speaking is a low and mean business. It requires no talent, reputation, character, education, culture or brains, but only a diabolical spirit, to set up in the business. Satan was the first detractor. Do not resemble him in this, or some might take you for his child.
God holds us responsible for our words. In James 3:5-6 we read: "Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: it settleth on fire the couse of nature; and it is set on fire of hell."
I remember a story of a minister to correct a tale-bearer, ordered him to scatter thistle seeds in a neighbors garden. As he reported the seeds scattered, he then said, "Go and gather them all up again." When he returned with but a few seeds, he warned him against his awful sin; and told him that he had, by tale-bearing, scattered seeds that could not be gathered up, but would bring forth a harvest to his condemnation.
Remember, a person who tells you the faults of another, will tell others about your faults. A dog that will bring a bone will carry one away.
Obey Christ and Paul's directions, "Go tell him his fault between thee and him alone," and "Restore such an one in the spirit of meekness." A correction or reproof should be given in love, and so irritation and harm wil be avoided.
If we know an evil about another, and the thought comes to tell it, think - is it necessary? - will good result? - does love prompt the words? Carry out the principle laid down by Paul: "Speaking the truth in love;" and evil-speaking will be expelled.
Let me say, if others criticise, speak evil, or slander you, have sufficient common sense and grace not to blow the sparks by retaliating or in way referring to it and you will find it will die out sooner than if you had retaliated.
In 1 Peter 3:8-9 we read: "Finally, be pitiful, be courteous: not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing."
Let us all resolve: I shall endeavor, by grace, to obey God, and "speak evil of no man" ( Titus 3:2 ).
Brother Love
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