Water Seeks It's own Level

4 An evildoer listens to wicked lips,  and a liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.

While I was growing up I was often met with one of my mother’s sayings: “Water seeks it’s own level”, meaning, those that delight in wrong doing and ill speak will not seek out the company of the righteous and the virtuous tongue. We tend to hang around those that are like us. If we are to be known by our character and our actions, we can not even stand to listen to gossip, slander, lies and a critical spirit.  These things should be an affront to our perceptions.  Once we start entertaining little lies and small compromises, the very foundations underneath us begin to tremble and our perception of what is allowable begins to waver.                 

Solomon warns us here  against the sins of listening and what we we allow in. He has spent numerous verses warning of the evils of the tongue.  Now, we look at the relationship between the tongue and the ear. Let’s face it: the gossiper doesn’t have to seek for long until there is an ear ready to listen, take in and digest the malice. We must not be a receptacle for words that do not edify, grow, encourage and bring life to those around us.

To speak in lies, gossip, slander, criticism and judgment is to spend out days in the company of folly.

To listen, engage, ponder and judge words that kill,  is to dance with the wicked and to harbor these thoughts in our hearts. 

Let’s pray: Lord, help us to uphold truth today.  Refine our senses so that we are so aware of the materials and speech that are allowed into our everyday.  Help us to have such a plum line of righteousness that we feel uncomfortable around lies, gossip,, slander and mischief.  Help us take control over what we listen to today.