A troublemaker plants seeds of strife; gossip separates the best of friends. . . Proverbs 16:28
Hello Friend,
Oh, how tempting! That juicy bit of gossip. I’ll just tell Susie; she won’t tell anyone. But the ooze of poison from your lips continues to flow creating a destructive tsunami of pain. The Bible describes how wicked it is to tell tales. Talebearing is an archaic term rarely heard today but describes a gossip or slanderer. “He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets; therefor do not associate with one who flatters with his lips. Whoever curses his father or his mother, His lamp will be put out in deep darkness” (Proverbs 20:19-20). Shana Alexander once said, “Trying to squash a rumor is like trying to unring a bell.” Once something is said, you can neither take is back or guarantee that it will not be repeated.
The habit of gossiping can be likened to an addiction to smoking cigarettes, easy to catch and difficult to get rid of. Gossiping superficially bonds us to others as an alternative to quality conversation. What do you talk about with your friends over coffee or at the water fountain at work? Do you guard your mouth? Are your words healing and uplifting? May I remind you that Jesus said, “Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:20). You might be thinking we weren’t gathered together in Jesus’ name. Really! If you claim to be a Christian, Jesus is with you always—even at the water fountain. Are you okay with Jesus listening in to your conversations?
PRAYER FOR TODAY AND FOREVER:
Dear God, May the words of my mouth be acceptable in Thy sight. Amen.
Linda
Hello Friend,
Oh, how tempting! That juicy bit of gossip. I’ll just tell Susie; she won’t tell anyone. But the ooze of poison from your lips continues to flow creating a destructive tsunami of pain. The Bible describes how wicked it is to tell tales. Talebearing is an archaic term rarely heard today but describes a gossip or slanderer. “He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets; therefor do not associate with one who flatters with his lips. Whoever curses his father or his mother, His lamp will be put out in deep darkness” (Proverbs 20:19-20). Shana Alexander once said, “Trying to squash a rumor is like trying to unring a bell.” Once something is said, you can neither take is back or guarantee that it will not be repeated.
The habit of gossiping can be likened to an addiction to smoking cigarettes, easy to catch and difficult to get rid of. Gossiping superficially bonds us to others as an alternative to quality conversation. What do you talk about with your friends over coffee or at the water fountain at work? Do you guard your mouth? Are your words healing and uplifting? May I remind you that Jesus said, “Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:20). You might be thinking we weren’t gathered together in Jesus’ name. Really! If you claim to be a Christian, Jesus is with you always—even at the water fountain. Are you okay with Jesus listening in to your conversations?
PRAYER FOR TODAY AND FOREVER:
Dear God, May the words of my mouth be acceptable in Thy sight. Amen.
Linda
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