Do not accuse anyone for no reason—
when they have done you no harm.
Summary: The world is unfair. It is unjust and unreasoning. False accusations are everywhere. Even though these grate at our sensibilities, they pale compared to our Lord’s example.
This is big. Throwing around false accusations is a big deal. About half the barroom brawls you have seen on TV or in the movies started this way. (The other half had legitimate complaints.)
For the mature believer, it is hard to imagine anyone intentionally making a false accusation. But not all believers are mature in their faith, and most of us still hang on to some habits we had as non-believers. So it is possible that even among believers, this could happen.
Among those outside the faith, false accusations are just another tool to get what you want. When you need to put someone on the defensive or publicly embarrass them, the false accusation can be powerful and effective.
When I started meditating on this passage, I found myself getting angry. I remember times when people had made false accusations against me. As a kid, some of this behavior is expected. As an adult, such accusations can have serious consequences.
Why does a false accusation have such power for evil? Because it is the opposite of what we are wired for. A false accusation is unjust. In our hearts, we all desire justice.
But whose justice? As Shakespeare might say, “Aye, there’s the rub!”
When we use our personal sense of justice, we judge by our limited point of view. We each are but one person among billions on this planet we live on. From God’s point of view, we look like ants on an anthill.
Our lifetimes are short, and our knowledge is very limited. For us to claim to be the arbiter of justice, we have to ignore the fact that we know almost nothing compared to God. We also have to ignore our own sins. That is the injustice we ourselves have caused.
As believers in an unbelieving world, we live among people who do not know God. Jesus told us, “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.” (John 15: 18) He explains, “If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also.” (John 15: 20)
I used to think that Jesus was talking about believers being hated because they were talking about Jesus. Now I realize believers are hated because we are different. Children of God do not have to wave Jesus’ name around for the world to see the difference in them. The world hates all that is godly.
There is going to be injustice in the world. Yet for those of us who believe, we understand this. We know God and look forward to our coming salvation and his coming justice.
In the final analysis, we are ultimately responsible for only one person: ourselves. Others will do what they are going to do. While it is no fun to be the recipient of injustice, we have to be careful not to disobey God and cause injustice ourselves.
Application: Keep in mind that we are walking through tall grass. We cannot see all that is going on around us. It is always best to keep our eyes on God.
Food for Thought: What are the risks of making a false accusation?
From a worldly perspective the risk is getting caught and paying the consequences.
But for a believer the risk of getting caught by the One that matters is a one hundred percent guarantee (Hebrews 4: 13).
Ephesians 4: 25 – 32 gives us a blueprint for the risks and tells us what to do about it. Besides “getting caught,” we hurt our relationship with the Lord by driving a wedge of guilt in the relationship. We grieve the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4: 30). We end up submitting to the enemy and giving him a foothold into our lives (Ephesians 4: 26 – 27). We let our bitterness and rage lead us down a dark road (Ephesians 4: 31). We also divide the body of Christ of which we are all members (Ephesians 4: 25). Malicious slander hurts more than the one we aim to hurt – it hurts the body of Christ and thus Christ Himself.
The answer is repentance and forgiveness that is grounded in Christ’s example (Ephesians 4:32). We need to put off falsehood (an intentional action) and speak truthfully to one another (another intentional action; Ephesians 5: 25).
Rich,
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on the Ephesians 4 passage. Your insights are fantastic! I think you have outlined a great sermon series there!! 🙂
In terms of worldly consequences I would add one thing: unintended consequences. Even when a person is not called out for making a false accusation, there are consequences for that action. Some good that normally would have been done by the person accused might not get done because of the accusation.
I am reminded of the quote attributed to Benjamin Franklin:
“For the want of a nail the shoe was lost,
For the want of a shoe the horse was lost,
For the want of a horse the rider was lost,
For the want of a rider the battle was lost,
For the want of a battle the kingdom was lost,
And all for the want of a horseshoe-nail.“
I think R really hit the nail on the head. I also think another risk of making false accusations is that we can tarnish or destroy our witness for Christ. I think false accusations usually come in two flavors: one marinades over something in their mind and doesn’t take the time to think of all aspects or perspectives before speaking, or one purposefully devises a plan to accuse someone else of something because they feel threatened or slighted. In
either case, it is hard to speak on how God has changed your life and at the same time accuse someone of something falsely. Better to ask the Lord how He would have you react.
James 1:19-20 “My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.”
Chris,
Thank you for your wise counsel! Now if you can just help me to slow down the response time between the smart-aleck comment appearing in my mind and the words coming out of my mouth I might be more prone to “ask the Lord.”
That said, I have found that the more I study God’s Word and fellowship with his people, but better I am getting at guarding my tongue.
Thank you for the James 1:19-20 verse. I might need to get that one written on my wall, above my door, tattooed somewhere, and on my windshield. Or written on my heart.
Tim,
Of all your ideas, having it written on the heart is the best. I have been memorizing verses again thanks to Earl’s encouragement. I find it makes all the difference. 🙂
02-16-2022, Proverbs 3:30, What are the risks of making a false accusation?
Late to the party as usual, but really enjoy all the comments!
As believers we are like Paul. We have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer we who live, but Christ lives in us. We are empowered and enabled from and by our Heavenly Father to show restraint in our speech.
Galatians 2:20, Galatians 5:22-24
Christs’ prayer to The Father is, that we not be taken out of the world, but will be kept from the evil one. For we are not of this world, even as Christ is not of the world to be sanctified in the truth.
John 17:15-21
Slander is not a simple slip of the tongue or a statement later retracted because a person had been misinformed. Slander is in fact a calculated form of self-centered communication, intended to build oneself up by putting another down. A common practice of people of this world and a choice which will separate a believer from any relationship they may have with God. Their actions may provide some sort of worldly gain as they choose to live according to this world. But the process of sanctification will cease and they will no longer produce eternal fruit.
Ron,
As far as being late to the party, remember Matthew 20:16! 🙂
You are very right. Trading worldly gain for eternal life is a poor trade indeed!