Judges 16:17-18(KJV)
That he told her all his heart, and said unto her, There hath not come a razor upon mine head; for I have been a Nazarite unto God from my mother’s womb: if I be shaven, then my strength will go from me, and I shall become weak, and be like any other man. And when Delilah saw that he had told her all his heart, she sent and called for the lords of the Philistines, saying, Come up this once, for he hath shewed me all his heart. Then the lords of the Philistines came up unto her, and brought money in their hand.
From our anchored Scripture, Samson poured all his heart by revealing the secret of his strength to Delilah, and this action brought his downfall. Samson’s parents had known the secret of Samson’s strength since his birth, yet they told no one (Judges 13:5). However, the day Delilah heard of Samson’s secret from Samson himself, she told Samson’s enemies and brought him into destruction. Delilah betrayed Samson by leaking the secret to no other but his enemies. Betrayal is an emotional knife in the back that violates and smashes the trust we have extended to a friend. Betrayal is a painful experience that can take us by surprise. It can shake our confidence and leave us feeling vulnerable. However, we must remember that we are strong and capable of handling difficult situations. Although challenging, we can choose how we react and move forward, focusing on our growth and well-being. Proverbs 11:13 says, “A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.”
Certain life information types are classified and, therefore, top-secret, not meant to be shared with everyone. It’s truly empowering to differentiate between confidential information and what can be openly shared. Our inability to distinguish between private and public matters has caused immense harm to numerous lives. In our modern world that thrives on information, it is crucial to acknowledge the importance of safeguarding certain sensitive information from being disclosed to the public. Despite the abundance of information available, it is prudent to recognize that certain pieces of knowledge should be kept confidential. Likewise, there are facts or revelations about our lives that should remain a secret. The Bible says in Luke 2:19, “But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.” It is believed that one of the reasons Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ, was chosen and given classified information about the Messiah that would come through her was that she knew how to keep secrets. In 1 Samuel 16: 1-5, Samuel knew Saul was to be substituted, and a new heir apparent was to be ordained, but he was also conscious of the danger attached if King Saul should know about it. And the Bible recorded that God gave him sound counsel, and he told no one about the plans of God. Not even Jesse and his children knew about the real intention of Samuel in their house. Joseph revealed his vision and dreams to his brethren, and his life was nearly cut short, but only the grace of God made sure he lived to fulfill his destiny (Genesis 37:19-20). Like Joseph, many have destroyed their lives, marriages, and jobs by sharing secrets with friends or family members.
Beloved, do not be caught up with this spirit of deadly habit known as traitor or betrayer. Love everyone; however, not everyone you love qualifies to know the secrets of your life! The truth is that not everyone will be able to handle what is revealed to them. Be careful because some are waiting to use your secret for personal gain or destroy your life. Often, the enemy that wants to ruin your life does not come with a sword but a smile! As a true child of God, learning to keep other people’s secrets is also very important. It is about trust or what may be at stake. So, it’s a huge responsibility to ensure that people around you can confide in you. This should be a quality of every Christian. Nothing can be more dangerous and painful than sharing your secrets or ideas with a friend who will disappoint you! Let it not be said of you anywhere that you are unfaithful in keeping secrets.
O Lord, expose all unfaithful friends in my life and wipe off every secret of my life in the wrong hands in Jesus’ Name.