Gossip is not "networking", It's not "sharing concerns" or "bringing someone up to speed".
Gossip exactly what your mother taught you. It is talking about someone behind his or her back. While the subject of our gossip might not be outrageous, our gossip will result in anger, bitterness, hurt feelings, even damaged relationships.
Don’t take my word for it, examine Romans 1:29-30, “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;” (NIV)
Look at that, gossip is just as heinous as being a God hater.
Gossip creates a false sense of piety. Behind the “honorable” mask of concern lies the ugly face of selfishness, insecurity and spiritual immaturity.
The next time you’re tempted to engage in gossip:
1. Recognize the truth that gossip is a sin.
2. Exercise the power of words to fortify and edify others.
3. Acknowledge the damaging effect gossip will have on others.
Friends, I've engaged in more gossip than I care to admit and I have experienced every negative outcome this sin brings. I hope you will join the conversation today and share your story.
1 Comments:
Oh sweet friend, I lost a precious friend due to gossip. (I was going to write "due to sharing concerns", but let's call a spade a spade.)
I had been doing Day Care for a neighbour and friend of mine two afternoons a week. Her son was a couple of years younger than my son. I would pick them both up after school and look after him for a couple of hours each day. Unfortunately this little guy was a little "over zealous" at school and found himself often getting into trouble. The teacher would talk to me many nights and I'd have to relay the message to his parents...mostly his mom.
Not only was he "over zealous" at school, he rarely put on his "listening ears" in my home and would do the exact opposite of what I would request. It became so difficult that I was at the end of my rope, but hated to burden his mom with his behavior issues when he was already struggling at school.
One afternoon while standing with other mom's waiting for our children to come out of school, I was talking with another mom who did Day Care. I think more than seeking advice (if I was being honest), I was just unloading all my frustrations and spoke negatively about this little guy and his actions. That night when he came out the school door he ran past me to his dad who was standing directly behind me all that time. His dad had left work early to surprise his son, but his son was not the only one he surprised. He had overheard my entire conversation. The next day I received a call that I would no longer be needed to care for their son. I felt horrid. I tried often to apologize and although they claimed it had nothing to do with the conversation that day, our friendship was severed. It has been a loss now for about 10 years and it still breaks my heart. They had been precious friends. The kicker is, we had been witnessing to them...they weren't believers...and my words hurt my testimony for the Lord.
I have a friend, who when she finds herself involved in a conversation that turns to gossip, will simply say, "I choose not to take part in this discussion." That usually turns the subject gently, or she wanders away.
The tongue is evil, and no man can tame it as the Bible declares. Praying He will put a guard on my lips and my conversation will always be pleasing and acceptable to Him.
A lesson learned the hard way,
Joy
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