Security Clearance

(Proverbs 11:13 KJV)  A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.

How much of what people tell us are we free to share.  Often this is a simple question to answer but occasionally I find I have passed on something I thought was public knowledge only to have a person go ballistic about it.  I understand that “secrets” (5475) are not to be revealed.  I don’t always understand what is a secret.

One solution would be to never share anything that someone has shared.  That would cripple communication and often make it impossible for society to function.  When I was in the army years ago they talked about security clearances.  Two qualifications were necessary for information to be shared.  The one everyone can see is the proper security clearance.  Have you been checked out and found reliable.  When we are sharing we should always keep in mind to whom we are talking.  Are they trustworthy?  Are they the kind that will take what you say, twist it, and pass it on where they know it will do the most damage?  I have found that there are some people that I am very guarded around.  They can take innocent words and make it sound like they are the conspiracy of the ages. 

The second qualification is one we don’t often pay attention to.  Does the person have a need to know?  Not do they want to know, do they need to know.  If you are talking politics then everyone has a need even if they don’t have a want.  When you are sharing an argument you had with your wife, few people need to know about it.  In a sense this also goes beyond security.  We often spend a lot of time telling people details that they could not care less about.  It isn’t gossip, it is motor mouth.  Have some pity.

So I guess I am saying that we should be thinking when we talk and before we talk.  Don’t wait until after we talk.  This might slow things down a bit, but is that a bad idea?