Bible Reading: Proverbs 25:9, 10
Has someone confided in you? Do you know a secret? How can you know when to keep a secret and when a secret shouldn’t be kept secret?
There are a couple of questions that you can ask yourself to help you determine which kind of secret you have, a “must tell” or a “never tell.”
First, ask yourself, Will my telling this secret to someone help the person who told the secret to me? If keeping the secret could put the person who confided in you in some kind of jeopardy, that is the kind of secret that you do not keep. That is a “must tell” kind of secret.
Next, ask yourself, “Will I, personally, get some kind of benefit by telling someone this secret? Revealing something told to you in confidence only to make yourself look good, “get in good” with someone, or get something for yourself is a sure-fire way to earning a bad reputation for yourself. That is a “never tell” type of secret. The very wise King Solomon warned us about this in Proverbs 25:9 & 10 saying, “If you argue your case with a neighbor, do not betray another man's confidence, or he who hears it may shame you and you will never lose your bad reputation.”
Knowing when to reveal a secret and when to keep a confidence is a challenge. Asking yourself these questions will make those decisions easier.
“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” Ephesians 4:29
Prayer: Heavenly Father, give me the wisdom to know when to tell what I know and when to keep silent. In Jesus’ name. Amen.