What you know gives value to your life, and if you know it before everyone else, then that value is increased exponentially. If it is not a provable fact, then make something up, if only part of the story is known, then embellish it with your interpretation of how it should be. Welcome to the world of gossip, the life of a talebearer, (Prov. 26:22) those individuals who need recognition no matter the cost to others.
You will meet them in nearly every coffee shop, tea house, bar and restaurant, the need for personal recognition knows no boundaries, cares little for who is damaged or hurt, thinks nothing of the possible consequences of their actions beyond self-recognition, the rewards for these individuals are completely self-centered, the need to be noticed, the constant cry of “I am worthy” is the only satisfaction they know. Envision the older women around the kitchen or at the quilting gathering, the elderly men sitting in the convenience store or around park benches and you have just barely scratched the surface of these individuals, most of those “Little white lies” start out innocuously, I do not believe that malice of intent is always meant, but that does not change the consequences of these actions, intended or not, the talebearer can bring down entire nations.
You may look today at nearly every news reporting agency on the planet, grabbing attention, both on the personal and business end is now their business, in fact, everyone’s business is now their business. Even if the death rate is only 0.26 percent, the fear must be maintained, a 99.74 percent survival rate does not draw viewers or advertising revenue. The smallest crowd can be made to seem massive, the largest gathering can be inferred to be only a few, the perception of a thing is what has valued today, not the thing itself in totality or reality. The truth is being seen as a lie, the lie is forecast as the truth, and many of the brute beasts (2 Peter 2:12) are following along just as they always have. We are easily deceived.
“But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.” (James 5:12) “The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.” (Prov. 8:13) Talebearers, gossipers, embellishers of the facts, are like clouds without rain, they are a bane on society, and they should never be invited into your presence. The truth is the way of the born-again believer, there is no other way, “Well, I heard……,” should never cross your lips unless you can verify the validity of your statement, all else is pride.
Truth is a very difficult commodity to come upon these days, the last days will be perilous, (2 Tim. 3:1) and if were possible, even the elect will be deceived. (Matt. 24:24) And it almost always starts with just one person who wanted recognition.
Herein is the reason for this letter my friends, those who are dying to self seek no recognition for self, they desire no accolades, they never want their “fifteen minutes of fame,” all is for the glory of Christ, their entire lives are spent in the light. We fight an uphill battle every day, nearly every moment of our lives, the old nature inside of us screams for recognition and the world vies for our attention, to die to self cannot allow either to triumph. If we for even one moment begin to seek for ourselves that which is not rightfully ours we not only covet, but fall once again into pride, into the desire to be lifted up in the eyes of others instead of lifting up our Lord.
To die to self does not mean not having that third cookie, it has very little to do with not doing what you know you should not be doing, these should be the normal attributes of the follower of Jesus Christ, it means denying all desires of self-recognition, it means our entire lives are devoted to the glory of the Most High. “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” (Isaiah 5:20) These days are upon us, you should have seen them coming a long time ago, you should not be surprised, but you must be prepared, prepared to serve to a greater extent, prepared to die to self no matter the consequences. They will hate you because you are not like them, they will hate you because you only speak the truth, they will hate you because of Him. Look to Him, look to Christ only, He is your reward, let them have their rewards here.
