What’s So
Bad about Gossip?
“When words are many sin, is not absent…”
Proverbs 10:19
Have you
ever had someone tell you personal information about another person and then
tell you the reason they shared it with you was so you could pray? Frankly, if
I want someone to know something personal about me, I tell them myself. Or if I
want to share personal information with a group of trusted friends, I’ll ask
the group to pray because “a trustworthy man keeps a secret”
(Proverbs 11:13). I believe anything
else is gossip. “Gossip betrays a confidence so avoid a man who talks too much”
(Proverbs 20:19).
I heard the famous author and speaker Maya Angelo say, "When someone shows you who they are...believe them." Here’s another thing I learned: if an acquaintance is constantly telling you entrusted information about another friend, you can be sure they are gossiping about you, too. “When words are many, sin is not absent” (Proverbs 10:19). Why do we do it? It’s our own pride and insecurity.
If we criticize our neighbor, we think it makes us look better. We also believe we are steering the focus onto someone else’s situation, so we don’t have to deal with our sinful habits. So now the sin has doubled: we have gossiped, and we are prideful. “Before his downfall a man’s heart is proud” (Proverbs 18:12).
And if we are exaggerating while we are gossiping, then we are lying, too! “A lying tongue hates those it hurts, and a flattering mouth works ruin” (Proverbs 26:28). Whew, this sin stuff is contagious and destructive! It is also wicked and often creates crushing pain for the sinner and the one who is being sinned against. I think we can all relate. This is nasty stuff. Talk about hurt feelings and ruined reputations! What about broken relationships? “A gossip separates close friends” (Proverbs 16:28).
Our God
hates sin. He showed the world just how heinous it is through the violent death
of His precious Son. It took a perfect Savior to be vigorously tortured on a
cross to do away with the sins of His people. Yes, sin is ugly. God constantly
warns us to avoid evil. “Keep your tongue from evil and your lips
from speaking lies” (Psalm 34:13).
When someone is sharing gossip with us, we have a choice to join in the verbal lynching or to refuse to listen. “Without wood a fire goes out; without gossip a quarrel dies down” (Proverbs 26:20). What do we do when we discover someone is spreading gossip about us? God has an answer for that, too! “For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men” (1 Peter 2:15). Get that? God calls gossip, "ignorant talk of foolish people."
Wisdom says let God take care of it. We need to continue to show “soundness
of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed
because they have nothing bad to say about us” (Titus 2:8).
As God’s children, we should be doing everything we can to build up the body of Christ, not tear it down! We are in a universal, spiritual war and it’s the light versus the darkness! “Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves” (Romans 12:9-10). Our hearts and lives must be focused on the Lord Jesus Christ and His purposes. He will deal with the gossipmongers. “Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us” (1 Peter 2:12).
God’s Way is always the best way. His Way is truth, love, fullness of joy, and peace.
May the JOY of the Lord be our strength,
Polly 💖🎄🎝🎶
"What's So Bad About Gossip?" appears in my devotional, Totally Devoted 3, available at Amazon, B&N, etc.
