“She kept his garment with her until his master came home. Then she spoke to him ...” (Gen 39:16-18). Potiphar’s wife would have been wiser to have kept whatever happened a secret, to save her honour and Joseph’s. Unfortunately she had to “bow the knee” as an officer’s wife before Joseph, when he became the governor of Egypt (Gen 41:43 KJV). The Bible says that a whisperer separates the best of friends (Prov 16:28). Joseph was a trusted ally to Potiphar; but his wife’s divulging a secret unwisely, and that with a twist, separated both of them forever.
Joseph on his side was magnanimous. He never spoke about the matter to anyone, neither to Potiphar, nor to the jailor or even the king. Let us learn from Joseph. Secrets must be buried with us. If at all we need to share it with anyone let it be only to one or two trusted spiritual seniors. Indiscriminately divulging secrets will boomerang. We must keep our tongue under absolute control. Many have shared their secrets to regret for a lifetime.
“A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy person keeps a secret” (Prov 11:13). Many things happen to us, personally, in the family or we may hear of somebody’s matter. A wise person will discern which things can be revealed and which must be kept a secret. When friends and others share with us their own personal problems, we should not easily talk about them to others, even for prayer. People will lose confidence in us. Once a secret goes out of our mouth, it is no more a secret. There is no way of stopping it. People may pester you with questions. We are not indebted to tell everything to everyone. Just ask, “Why do you want to know?” and end the conversation. Divulging personal matters about others can damage their lives and amounts to gossip. Rightly did James say that the tongue is a fire that can set on fire a great area (Js 3:5,6).
We have a burden, yes. No question about it. But how much should we share and to whom? Does a church, fellowship, group, friend or pastor have the right to put pressure on us to share intimate secrets? They may emphasize confessing private issues publicly, confessing one to another their faults, and secretly talking to God those issues that should be openly confronted. Be wise. After talk at length about the tongue, immediately James talks about wisdom, not without reason (Js 3).
Dr. Lilian Stanley
13 Church Colony
Vellore 632006, India
+91 9843511943
lilianstanley@gmail.com
Blessing Youth Mission
13 Church Colony
Vellore 632006, India
+91-416-2242943, +91-416-2248943
hq@bymonline.org
www.bymonline.org
Click here for more options
To buy books written by Dr. Lilian Stanley, kindly reach to us in the follwing address
Blessing Literature Centre
21/11 West Coovam River Road,
Chintadripet,
Chennai 600 002, India.
+91-44-28450411, 8806270699
blc@bymonline.org
“She kept his garment with her until his master came home. Then she spoke to him ...” (Gen 39:16-18). Potiphar’s wife would have been wiser to have kept whatever happened a secret, to save her honour and Joseph’s. Unfortunately she had to “bow the knee” as an officer’s wife before Joseph, when he became the governor of Egypt (Gen 41:43 KJV). The Bible says that a whisperer separates the best of friends (Prov 16:28). Joseph was a trusted ally to Potiphar; but his wife’s divulging a secret unwisely, and that with a twist, separated both of them forever.
Joseph on his side was magnanimous. He never spoke about the matter to anyone, neither to Potiphar, nor to the jailor or even the king. Let us learn from Joseph. Secrets must be buried with us. If at all we need to share it with anyone let it be only to one or two trusted spiritual seniors. Indiscriminately divulging secrets will boomerang. We must keep our tongue under absolute control. Many have shared their secrets to regret for a lifetime.
“A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy person keeps a secret” (Prov 11:13). Many things happen to us, personally, in the family or we may hear of somebody’s matter. A wise person will discern which things can be revealed and which must be kept a secret. When friends and others share with us their own personal problems, we should not easily talk about them to others, even for prayer. People will lose confidence in us. Once a secret goes out of our mouth, it is no more a secret. There is no way of stopping it. People may pester you with questions. We are not indebted to tell everything to everyone. Just ask, “Why do you want to know?” and end the conversation. Divulging personal matters about others can damage their lives and amounts to gossip. Rightly did James say that the tongue is a fire that can set on fire a great area (Js 3:5,6).
We have a burden, yes. No question about it. But how much should we share and to whom? Does a church, fellowship, group, friend or pastor have the right to put pressure on us to share intimate secrets? They may emphasize confessing private issues publicly, confessing one to another their faults, and secretly talking to God those issues that should be openly confronted. Be wise. After talk at length about the tongue, immediately James talks about wisdom, not without reason (Js 3).
Dr. Lilian Stanley
13 Church Colony
Vellore 632006, India
+91 9843511943
lilianstanley@gmail.com
Blessing Youth Mission
13 Church Colony
Vellore 632006, India
+91-416-2242943, +91-416-2248943
hq@bymonline.org
www.bymonline.org
Click here for more options
To buy books written by Dr. Lilian Stanley, kindly reach to us in the follwing address
Blessing Literature Centre
21/11 West Coovam River Road,
Chintadripet,
Chennai 600 002, India.
+91-44-28450411, Mob:8806270699
blc@bymonline.org
