Proverbs 18

“A fool does not delight in understanding, but only in revealing his own mind’ (v2).  Modern technology makes it easy for people to indiscriminately express their opinions, reveal details of their private lives, and criticize others.  Gossiping has always been a favorite human pastime (the words of a whisperer, v8), but now we can do it anonymously.  The proverbs warn that “death and life are in the power of the tongue” (v21) – words spoken or written. 

Scripture says wise people are different.  They are “swift to hear, slow to speak” (James 1:19), and their words bring life.