Guarding the Reputation of Others

I’d mentioned this a week ago, as I spoke with a few others about honest report.  It came to me that we aren’t only supposed to be concerned about our own reputations, but the reputations of others.  I believe that guarding the reputation of other people is an expression of our love for them (Mt 22:36-39). 

What are you doing to ensure the good name of those around you?  Are you even damaging their name?  We should do to others as we would have them do to us, and speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves (Lk 6:31; Pr 31:8).  We aren’t to give false testimony, or speak falsely of them (Ex 20:16; 23:1; Ps 34:13; Jas 4:11).  But caring for other’s report isn’t limited to only false statements.

Do you reveal personal or sensational reports about others, be they true or false (which by the way, is the definition of gossip.  My definition of gossip is passing on anything you wouldn’t want known about yourself. Pr 11:9 and 13)?  Will you be like Ham, who was quick to tell of his father Noah’s indiscretion, or will you be like Shem and Japheth, who made sure he wasn’t further disgraced (Gen 9:20-23; Pr 17:9)?  A gossip betrays confidence, separates close friends, and without it a quarrel dies down (Pr 11:13; 16:28; 26:20).  We aren’t to slander one another (Lev 19:16; Ps 101:5).  Instead, we should speak words of encouragement and build people up (Acts 13:15; 20:2, Eph 4:29, 31; Php 4:8; 1 Th 5:10-12; Heb 3:13).

This isn’t to say, we aren’t supposed to be truthful, but we should examine our motivations for choosing to say the things we do (Ps 37:30; Mt 12:36; 1Pt 3:10, 16).  We should ask ourselves, is this what I would want said about me?  Better yet, is this what God would have me say (1 Pt 4:11)?