Ever notice how bad news travels fast while good news barely makes the rounds?
Case in point: when George H.W. Bush was president, he once collapsed at a state dinner in Japan. The news traveled instantly, of course, and one major network was poised to go on the air with the bogus report (which was canceled at the last minute) that President Bush had died. Bad news does indeed travel with lightning speed.
How about good news? Let’s see: how long does it take you—if you listen to or watch the news regularly—to think of some really good news that you have heard? Well, one might have to ponder that question for a few minutes—though, thankfully, there are broadcasts that do feature positive, encouraging stories regularly.
Good reports are crucial in the health of a body, a nation, a church, a business, or any organization. The opposite of a good report is an evil, or bad, report. Evil reports are disseminated by whisperers (who secretly or privately pass on a bad story: “All they that hate me whisper against me” (Ps. 41:7); gossips (who magnify and sensationalize rumors or partial information); slanderers (who seek to destroy another person’s reputation or credibility with damaging facts); and busybodies (who dig up evil reports and spread them through gossip, whispering, slandering). Evil reports are communicated through words, facial expressions, gestures, and tones. Each can be one of Satan’s devices.
But what is a good report? How does one give a good report? What does a good report do? How can one avoid an evil report? Solomon, in his book of Proverbial wisdom, is my primary source.
- What is a good report?
• It may conceal secrets that could damage a person: “A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.” (Provs. 11:13) “Hatred stirreth up strife: but love covereth all sins.” (Provs. 10:12)
• It helps instead of hurts: “A true witness delivereth souls, but a deceitful witness speaketh lies.” (Provs. 14:25)
• It is of excellent speech: “Excellent speech becometh not a fool….” (braggart, grumbler, vulgar). (Provs. 17:7) “A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth, and a word fitly spoken in due season, how good it is!” (Provs. 15:23)
• It is born of thought: “The heart of the righteous studieth to answer.” (Provs. 15:28)
• It is couched in wholesome words: “A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.” (Provs. 15:4) - How do you give a good report?
• By telling the truth; by revealing information that is helpful; by withholding information that is hurtful; by speaking that which edifies (cf. Numbers 13:32 and Numbers 14:7,8 for a comparison of what a positive report versus an evil report will do). - What does a good report do?
• It protects people: “A man that beareth false witness against his neighbor is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.” (Provs. 25:18)
• It promotes truth: “He that speaketh truth sheweth forth righteousness: but a false witness deceit.” (Provs. 12:17)
• It promotes health: “There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.” (Provs. 12:18)
• It provides encouragement: “The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom.” (Provs. 10:21)
• It prevents destruction: “Where no wood is there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.” (Provs. 26:20)
• It prompts peace: “A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.” (Provs. 15:1) - How to detect and avoid carriers of an evil report.
• They usually check for acceptance by asking for your opinion about someone, or by dropping a negative comment about a person first.
• They may create curiosity: “Have you noticed how so and so has been acting lately?”
• They may disguise it by asking for counsel or by asking for prayer.
• They will often disclaim credit: “Don’t quote me on this but….”
• A look of disapproval will often discourage someone who wants to share an evil report: “The north wind driveth away rain: so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue.” (Provs. 25:23)
In II Samuel 15, verses 1-6, there is an example of what a person with an evil report can do. The main character is a son of King David, Absalom. He is portrayed as one who rises early, stations himself at the gate, and waits for anyone who has a controversy on which he wants the King to render a judgment. Absalom hears the complaint, then answers that it is too bad no one is “deputed” by the King to hear his complaint. “Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man which had any suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do him justice!” (II Sam. 15:1-6)
Well, you know how that story ended! Absalom spread evil reports about his father, resulting in an eventual insurrection against the King, who eventually had to leave his throne and Jerusalem…the end of the story…the tragic death of Absalom. Oh, what terrible consequences an evil report can wreak!
Be careful of the report you choose to pass on. Is it true? Helpful? Necessary? Uplifting? Edifying? Do not be party in listening to or passing on evil reports. Be careful. Be safe.
“The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going.” (Provs. 14:15)