Avoiding Gossip
Matthew 12:36, “But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.”
Morning to all! We do hope this is finding you waking to a positive and happy day with expectations of only good things! As you read the title, I can hear the voices saying, oh no, another lecture on gossip! No, not a lecture, just the truth on how we each tend to spread information we hear that may not be the exact truth and just how doing so may cause real pain to another person. Though we may not mean to cause harm, we are doing something that God said not to do, because He knew it would have the same results. It always hurts someone, belittles someone, breaks someone’s trust, and stops people from being friends with you. The best thing to do is avoid the conversation; which is hard to do for everyone. You want to know what is going on, but you know it isn’t something you need to be a part of unless the person involved wants you to know. God instructs us to stay away from it because it is a destructive sin, that is slanderous, full of malice, ruins relationships, and causes strife all around. We actually need to build others up, not bring them down. When we use positive responses and correct the topic to positive thoughts, it will redirect away from the gossip back to the concern for the well-being of the individual being talked about. The thing to think about as you are in a conversation is, what if this were you? What if you were on the other end of this gossip session and the topic is way off from what actually happened? Would you want your personal circumstance shared with the wrong information and with the wrong people? By using God’s way and obeying His commandments, we are setting better examples for everyone, even children and teens who may be listening to your conversations. Scriptures also warn against being “listeners” of gossips or slanderers, Proverbs 20:19, “do not associate with a gossip” and not to even eat with them! In the book of James 3, James wrote that the comparison of the tongue to a small fire that can set a whole forest on fire, which is how large the danger of uncontrolled speech can be! As believers, we should live as Jesus did, acting as He did, speaking as He did. We are to be trustworthy to those who need someone to confide in when they have no one else. What we are told in confidence should never be told again, discussed again, mentioned again, unless it is back to the same person who trusted you with it! We can bring it to God only so that He can bring comfort and peace to that person, and so He can give the answers needed to that person. So, today, if you find yourself in the midst of a group or a person who begins to discuss something that is gossip; breathe, then politely say you are not interested and excuse yourself. Be nice, be confident, but let them know that God does not favor gossip or discussion of someone else’s business; just walk away or change the subject; God will be pleased!
Scriptures:
Read: Proverbs 26:20, Matthew 12:36, Proverbs 16:28, Proverbs 11:13, Proverbs 20:19, Leviticus 19:16, Titus 3:2, James 1:26, Ephesians 4:29, Psalms 141:3, Proverbs 18:8, Romans 1:29-32, 2 Timothy 2:16, Proverbs 6:16-19, Psalms 101:5, James 4:11, I Timothy 5:13, Exodus 23:1, Philippians 4:8
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank you for your saving grace, your continued mercy, your unconditional love. Help us, Father, for the discernment to know when we need to walk away from gossip. Teach us daily Father, to know that we are to become more Christ-like with our speech and conversations so that others will trust us. Give us strength, Father, to know when to walk away from those who use gossip to hurt others and find those that are willing to do your will. Amen.