Proverbs 26:20: Without wood a fire goes out; without gossip a quarrel dies down.
If I do not add wood to my fire then I will have no fire and on the other hand, if I want fire, I add wood. Simple lesson.
Simple, however, when applied to wood. The Word of God teaches us the damage of gossip - of slandering or killing another person's character with your words. If you want a quarrel to continue, continue to talk ill about the person - more wood - more fire. If you want a quarrel to end, be quiet. Stop talking. Or say something positive and upbuilding about the person.
How many quarrels would die in a marriage or between parents and children, in church or in workplaces if someone stood up and shut up. And the quarrel would die - it would shrivel up.
C.H. Spurgeon writes in John Ploughman's Talks: An open mouth shows an empty head. If the chest had gold or silver in it, it would not always stand wide open. Talking comes by nature, but it needs a good deal of training to learn to be quiet; yet regard for truth should put a bit into every honest man's mouth and a bridle upon every good woman's tongue. (48-49)
Wise words. Stop placing wood on the fire and the quarrel dies out.
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