Who hasn't gossiped? If you say you have not then that is a lie or half truth which is also a lie. Hmmm. Gossip is not good. It separates friends and family and hurts relationships. It is like poison. Why good does it do? Absolutely none. Seems women tend to be drawn to finding out details and that is why magazines like 'People' are so popular with the fairer sex.Why do we feel compelled to know things? For some reason the female gender loves to find out things about people. But why does it matter? What good will it do and how will it improve your life to find out details of some celebrities life or even juice tidbits about a friend? If someone wants you to know something they will tell you and if a friend shares something in confidence do not feel you have the right to share it even with a prayer chain. Prayer chains can get into gossip too as we speculate why 'so and so' is sick and add details to the request. I saw this happen once several years ago and decided because of that I did not want to be on a prayer chain. Now I pray for my friends when they ask and I pray with my Moms in Touch group. I love the policy in Moms in Touch which is "What is prayed in the group stays in the group' so hopefully if everyone is honorable this will alleviate things getting out beyond the circle of ladies who is privy to the prayer.
Some Bible verses dealing with gossip follow. 1 Timothy 5 :13 says "at the same time they also learn to be idle, as they go around from house to house; and not merely idle, but also gossips and busybodies, talking about things not proper to mention.' The tongue should be used to bless others and give praise but not to condemn and judge. James 3:11 says "Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?" Proverbs 21:23 says "He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from calamity." Are you careful what you say and think before you say it? Do you ask yourself "is what I plan to say going to help or hurt someone?" Proverbs 18:7-8 says "A fool’s mouth is his undoing,and his lips are a snare to his soul. The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to a man’s inmost parts." Words can be a painful 'slam dunk' in someones life who receives them. If you are the victim of a gossip it can hurt you and ruin your life. You have heard it said "If you do not have anything good to say then don't say it at all?" Well this is excellent advice we need to all heed.
Romans 1:29-30 says "They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents". What good does it to do talk about others and make speculations that do not matter? Why are we drawn to thinking we have to add our 'two cents' to something? Better to keep the little hole in our faces closed so we do not get ourselves into trouble that takes years sometimes to recover from. Proverbs 11:13 says "A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy man keeps a secret." Are you a trustworthy friend? If not ask God to help you develop self control over your mouth. Proverbs 20:19 says "A gossip betrays a confidence; so avoid a man who talks too much." Self control is an area we all need to work on. It can involve a lot of aspects of life such as dieting, exercise and the like but self control of the words we use is vitally important. Words can for sure get us into a bunch of trouble if used in the wrong way. We know lying is bad, swearing is bad, angry words are bad but gossip is a big no no. If you are guilty of this sin ask God to give you the strength to not meddle in others affairs and gain self control over thinking you need to know juicy tidbits about celebrities. If this is a weakness then force yourself to turn off shows that simply spread more gossip. Your mission today is to work on saying only pleasant things that edify others.
Ephesians 4:29 is a good verse to end with. It says "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen."
PRAYER: Father today I need your help and strength to not say things or meddle in things that do not concern me. Help me Lord to not get involved in office gossip or even church gossip. Father give me self control to get away from conversations when others are trying to belittle other people through words. Father I want what I say to only bring glory to those who listen. Help me in this journey. In Jesus Name. Amen.
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