The Reminder
Volume XXXVIII, #26: Some Bible Verses to Consider When Using Social Media (pt.2)
Editor’s Note: This is the second half of an article that I found on the above website. There are eight verses in all, the other four (and the introduction) are in last week’s bulletin. Hope it is helpful!
5. Be a Bubbling Brook
“The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters; the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook” (Proverbs 18:4)
Strive to be a wise presence online. Let your words and the things you share be refreshing and life- giving. Words are so powerful. They can either heal or they can destroy. Choose your words wisely.
6. Don’t Invite a Beating
“A fools lips walk into a fight, and his mouth invites a beating. A fool’s mouth is his ruin, and his lips are a snare to his soul” (Proverbs 18:6-7).
Don’t be the kind of person who invites a virtual or a verbal “beating.” When you share an article that is filled with hateful and derogatory comments about a politician; you know you are going to make that politician’s supporters very angry. Ask yourself, is it worth it? Does this really need to be said? Am I being mean, cruel, or hurtful?
7. Don’t be Slack in Your Work
“Whoever is slack in his work is a brother to him who destroys” (Proverbs 18:9).
Social media can consume so much of our time and energy. Time and energy that might be taking away from work. This Proverb says that when a person is lazy in their job, they’re pretty close to being someone who intentionally sabotages the efforts of their team.
8. Don’t Answer Before You Hear
“If one gives an answer before he hears, it is his folly and shame” (Proverbs 18:13).
One of the things that frustrates me the most on social media is when people comment on articles without actually reading them. The headline of an article will pose a question and people will attempt to answer the question without actually reading the article. We must be people who listen before – and more often than – we speak.
Conclusion
I could go on and on with passages from Proverbs, but I will stop with these. Scripture can shape our lives, if we will let it. It can make us wise and discerning. It can teach us what to post and what to comment. It can teach us when we need to refrain our fingers from typing.
I don’t know about you, but reading through these passages reminds me that I’ve made many mistakes and have a long way to go. But we’ll know we’re on the right track when our online presence is filled with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).
- 20180701_Reminder_xxxviii_26.pdf (99.99 kB)
