The Test of the Talebearer

Today's Prime Time Devo is a repeat from an earlier blog. This particular Devo has been the third most popular and it deals with the faithfulness in the area of confidentiality. 1Sa 10:14-16, “ Then Saul's uncle said to him and his servant, "Where did you go?" So he said, "To look for the donkeys. When we saw that they were nowhere to be found, we went to Samuel." 15 And Saul's uncle said, "Tell me, please, what Samuel said to you." 16 So Saul said to his uncle, "He told us plainly that the donkeys had been found." But about the matter of the kingdom, he did not tell him what Samuel had said. " Why the secrecy? Why not spill the beans to Saul's uncle? Why even include this little incident in Scripture. It certainly isn't necessary to the rest of the story. What lessons can we learn from this. First of all, I think it's a major miracle that Saul didn't spill the beans. This is an uncle, a close friend of the family. Wouldn't you want to tell him about this tremendous honor that has just been bestowed upon you? Yet Saul remains silent. This “new heart” that God had given him and the dousing with the Holy Spirit is already producing fruit in Saul's life. In not “spilling the beans” to his uncle Saul is demonstrating faithfulness, and patience. Pr 11:13 says, “A talebearer reveals secrets, But he who is of a faithful spirit conceals a matter.” and Pr 19:11 says, The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger, And his glory is to overlook a transgression. Saul had a choice. He could be a talebearer and demonstrate unfaithfulness in keeping confidentiality, or he could exercise discretion and demonstrate that he could be patient. Patience (longsuffering) and faithfulness are two of the qualities listed among the fruit of the Spirit in Ga 5:22. “ But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,” Think about it. Every time you are given information in confidence from another, the Lord is giving you an opportunity to display the fruit of the Spirit in your life. Oh others just like Saul's uncle will try to pry it out of you, but remember this incident and look to God to help you to keep a lid on it.