Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Tattletales



Scripture says in Luke 18:16, "Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God." There are a multitude of commentaries and interpretations of what Jesus meant here but since becoming a father I see this scripture very differently. I see the kingdom of God in my daughter and have derived a ton of biblical truths since her birth three years ago.

One truth that just recently I have seen is the idea of a tattletale. According to Websters the word tattletale means "informant". So a tattletale is like a snitch in a mob movie. To stay out of trouble they quickly point out the faults in others. Hmmm...sound familiar?

In Matthew 7:2-4, Jesus asks: " 2For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. 3"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?" Now I know many of you know this verse and use it often. It has been the cornerstone of the anti-gossip movement in the modern church however I want you to take it one step further. When God, asks you why you haven't done his will do you complain about not having what others have, or how your spouse isn't helping, or how your kids take up all your time. Guess what, this is a blame shift and you are being a tattletale.

Back to my daughter, I get so annoyed when I here tattletales when we go out. I am very strict about my daughter not being one either. As I look around at other parents, I am not alone by a long-shot. I think God places that intolerance of tattling in us and if He does then shouldn't we also keep that in mind when we are talking to God. Now I am not saying that we shouldn't have venting sessions where we complain to God, that's human and God asks us to give Him our burdens. What I am saying is that when you go to God, don't tell Him about all the bad everyone else is doing and how they are hindering you because in the end it will be you and you alone that gives an account of your life. God Bless.