DON’T ACCUSE

Do not accuse anyone for no reason — ​when they have done you no harm.

Proverbs 3:30

Many people have a built-in accusatory nature. It may come from their heritage or it could have been just recently developed. Regardless, it’s a destructive force inside a home.

To accuse others falsely can bring no good to a home. When speaking of others — ​whether or not they have harmed you — ​do so with positive speech. The old saying “If you can’t say something good, don’t speak” is a good motto to live by.

The reasons to keep your family disciplined in this area are many. First, accusations create a negative tone in your home, and that negativity will filter into the rest of your conversations. Second, you don’t really know the other person’s life and circumstances, so to make assumptions is dangerous and can lead to false accusation. Their lives are for God to deal with, and it would be much more helpful to pray for them than to accuse them. Third, not accusing others falsely is God’s command for us to follow. That responsibility is heavy enough for us to shoulder. 

PARENTING PRINCIPLE

If you hang with people who falsely accuse others, you can bet they’ll eventually accuse you.

POINTS TO PONDER

• Is your home one where people are falsely accused?

• Why is it easy to fall into this pattern?

• How will you set a better tone in this area?