Run And Tell That!

In the book of Proverbs Chapter 6, the Bible speaks of six things the LORD hates. And then it says, “yea, seven are an abomination unto him.”

For the sake of time, I just want to deal with one of them. It can be found in the b-clause of verse 18 of Proverbs chapter 6.

“…feet that be swift in running to mischief.”

I remember running track years ago when I considered myself to be the fastest runner around – at about 12 years old (smile). Until of course, with all the energy I exerted, there was nothing I could do to keep up with two guys who finished first and second in a track meet. It was not long after that when I realized that being a runner wasn’t my gift in life.

I was running to win a prize. However, briefly, in today’s study, I want to address a different kind of runner. The runner who runs hastily to spread gossip and mischief. You may ask what could Rickey possibly be talking about this time?

Well, I want to address the runner who has to be the first to spread rumors about an affair; the first to facebook a death or a crime; the first to tweet or Instagram an accident; or the first to text bad news. The sad part is MOST of the time they get the facts wrong anyway. Do you know this runner? Does he or she live close to you? Could the runner be in your house or how about in your own body?

“A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes.” (Charles Spurgeon)

I thank God for USPS, UPS, and FedEx too – but a FedEx gossipper should not be your job title when it comes to spreading the negative news!

Some of you are like eager retailers that can’t wait until the bell rings to start a Hot Sale! For you, time is money so you can’t afford to be the second one to bear the bad news.

Where does this stuff come from but from a wicked heart. How can you celebrate someone’s misfortune, someone’s job loss, someone’s young daughter’s pregnancy, someone’s young son being locked away, or someone’s failed marriage? How could you? You say, I’m not celebrating it – I’m just carrying the news. Well, there are scriptures for what you’re doing. It’s called gossiping, slandering, reviling, backbiting, or being a talebearer. I pray that you take a moment to do a bit of inventory in your life and see if the shoe fits. If it doesn’t, then that’s good. However, if it does, let’s pray and ask God to change our hearts. The truth is you have enough negative stuff about your own life that you need God to clean up than to focus all of your attention on someone else’s.

If the shoe fits, here’s an assignment for you. Start practicing this as soon as you can and become the type of person that’s swift to carry the good news.

Be the first to encourage someone after a really tough blow in life.
Be the first to encourage the cashier who’s ready to cuss out the next customer.
Be the first to bless someone financially who’s down to their last dollar.
Be the first to tell someone about the love God.
Be the first to tell someone that no matter what you’re going through in life, Jesus wants to save and deliver you. He wants to make your life whole and complete. He wants to give you unspeakable joy.

So, learn to be this type of runner – the one that’s swift to carry good news and never to carry negativity.

Colossians 4:6 Let your speech [be] alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

Psalm 141:3 Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.

Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

Proverbs 10:18 He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool.

Proverbs 20:19 He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.

“Preparing You To Live Victorious!”

Rickey E. Macklin