You can often hear it in their face.

Look and Listen for the cry of the poor.  Do we even look at their faces?

In Pro 21:13 we find we are not to ignore their cry:

Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.

We who are so rich that our cup spills over (Psa 23:5), should we not spill out some of our joy? A smile. A warm greeting. Maybe even a friendly inquiry.

Poor isn’t always about money. And even if a circumstance seems to be about money, the problem isn’t always the problem.  Maybe you haven’t the money to give (Act 3:6), but you have reason for hope (1Pe 3:15)

To walk by the cry of the poor (in spirit or otherwise) while covering our eyes and ears, isn’t profitable for anyone’s sake.

Just because it’s getting said, doesn’t mean it belongs in your head.

In Prov 20:19, we are warned about people with loose lips. As Matt Mitchell says in Resisting Gossip,

Gossip is like a fired bullet. Once you hear the sound, you can’t take it back.

There is no denying that it is hard to not listen, especially if the words are coming from someone close to you. Yet, if gossip is wrong, your listening is enabling the gossiper, no?

Plug your ears. Walk away. La-La-La-La-La…

Don’t Let the Gossip In.

We all at some point feel the pain of backstabbing or wrongdoing. It hurts. Rather than displaying your anger, defer it instead of acting on it.

If you’ve been done wrong, do right. As in Prov 19:11

The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression.

There are several verses in Scripture that echo this wisdom in exercising prudence and patience, such as Prov 14:29, Mat 5:22, Mat 5:44, Col 3:13, Eph 4:32, and Jas 1:19 to name a few.

I’ve been the victim of my own anger, self-inflicting pain on top of hurt. Hold off on your anger. It helps no one, and the pain just lasts longer.

Forgiveness is a muscle. Exercise often.

A young child grabs hold of the leg of their parent, sometimes in order to hide, often simply for safety. But what about as adults? Is there an Olly Olly Oxen Free place? A pillar of safety like the old oak tree or a parent’s leg?

Prov 18:10

The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.

Whenever I read or recall this verse, or whenever I feel a bit scared about something, this song also comes to mind:

Hide Thou Me