You’ve got to love the imagery here—wood and fire, gossip and quarrels. It’s simple but powerful. Imagine it: if you stop tossing logs on a fire, eventually, it flickers out, right? No drama, no grand finale, just… darkness. That’s the vibe we’re getting about gossip here. It’s like we’re holding this metaphorical log, and God’s saying, “Hey, you wanna keep this fight burning? Or are you ready to let it die out?”
And if we’re honest, there’s something weirdly satisfying about feeding that fire. Gossip can be like a little shot of espresso for the ego: “Did you hear what so-and-so did?” But Proverbs doesn’t pull any punches. It tells us, plain and simple, that every time we pass on gossip, we’re essentially deciding, “Yes, I would like this problem to stay around a little longer.”
Here’s the irony, though: we think sharing a little nugget of juicy information will bring us closer to others (who doesn’t love a good story, right?). But the reality? It usually just fuels division and misunderstanding. This verse is a reminder that we have way more power to create peace than we realize. Sometimes, it’s as easy as keeping quiet. Proverbs is throwing down the gauntlet: Are you going to be the fuel or the extinguisher?
It’s a funny thing, though—learning to “starve the fire” can feel tough at first, but it’s like switching from sugar to black coffee. At first, you miss the sweetness, but eventually, you start to appreciate the simplicity and clarity. And that’s a freedom worth savoring.
