Sometimes the simplest solutions work the best.
While living in London, England, I visited a Royal Navy warship that was open to the public. An officer conducted a tour of each deck, pointing out the powerful guns and sophisticated radar and sonar equipment. Then he paused at what looked like just a jumble of round and wedge-shaped blocks of wood.
“Can anyone guess what these are for?” he queried. When our group looked blank, he explained. “If a hole should accidentally or deliberately puncture the ship’s steel hull, we would need to act quickly to keep from sinking. Every one of the crew is trained to grab one of these wedges and jam it into the hole. They may not look too impressive, but these plugs can keep 90 percent of seawater from flooding into a vessel until more permanent repairs are carried out.”
Later, I remembered the World War II slogan, “Loose lips sink ships.” Civilians were reminded that careless talk could punch a hole in the country’s security net. But on another level, loose lips can also sink a person’s reputation. The Bible repeatedly warns about the power of the tongue to cause distress and disaster.
Christians should guard our words and take swift action when we’re made aware of dangerous rumors. An SOS prayer for wisdom is the obvious first line of defense. Refusing to listen to or pass on gossip is also essential.
But God expects even more from us. The next time you have the opportunity, step in and plug up hurtful talk. Sometimes it only takes one concerned individual to keep another person from sinking.
Deborah Meroff served as a missionary writer and photographer for thirty years. While based in London, she was privileged to visit 115 countries and publish scores of articles and a dozen books in various languages. She now resides in Maine, USA.