At the end of their first date, a young man takes his favorite girl home.  Emboldened by the night, he decides to try for that  important first kiss.  With an air of confidence, he leans with his hand against the wall and, smiling, he says to her, "Darling, how about a goodnight kiss?"

Horrified, she replies, "Are you mad?  My parents will see us!"

"Oh come on!  Who's gonna see us at this hour?"

"No, please.  Can you imagine if we get caught?"

"Oh come on, there's nobody around, they're all sleeping!"

"No way.  It's just too risky!"

"Oh please, please, I like you so much!!"

"No, no, and no.  I like you too, but I just can't!"

"Oh yes you can.  Please?"

"NO, no. I just can't."

"Pleeeeease?..."

Out of the blue, the porch light goes on, and the girl's sister shows up in her pajamas, hair disheveled.  In a sleepy voice the sister says: "Dad says to go ahead and give him a kiss.  Or I can do it.  Or if need be, he'll come down himself and do it.  But for crying out loud tell him to take his hand off the intercom button!"

Have you ever been horrified to learn that someone else overheard something you said in private?  It's a terrible thing to experience.  It's even more terrible when what you said in private was shared by another person.  There is a feeling of betrayal, a feeling of distrust.  That's why the Bible has much to say about the importance of keeping confidences.

"A talebearer reveals secrets,
but he who is of a faithful spirit conceals a matter."
(Prov. 11:13)

"If you argue your case with a neighbor,
do not betray another man's confidence."
(Prov. 25:9)

Why do we have such a strong desire to share secrets?  Perhaps because it makes us feel important ("Look what I know that you don't!").  Sometimes it's because we feel we can lift ourselves up by making others look bad (and most secrets involve information that will do that).  But, whatever the reason, allowing the tongue to slip off its leash can cause damage that may never be repaired in our lifetime.

May we always strive to be the kind of people that others can trust with all their hearts, for the ability to keep another's confidence is one of the greatest marks of integrity.