Dear Friends:
When I was nine or ten years old I ran up to my mother and whispered into her ear something that I had heard about a neighbor. She gave me one of those looks that only a mother can give, then said softly, “Whispering is lying; lying’s a sin. If you ever get to heaven; you’ll never get in.” Mom, like most of us, knew how easy it is to slip into the sin of gossip.
Just how serious is gossip? The flippant answer might be, “Depends on whether you are the gossiper or the gossipee,” but the Bible doesn’t see gossip as a minor infraction.
Psalm 39:1 puts it this way, “’I will be careful how I act. I will not sin by what I say. I will be careful what I say around wicked people.’”
Need a picture of a gossip? Check out Psalm 64:3-4: “They sharpen their tongues like swords. They shoot bitter words like arrows. They hide and shoot at innocent people.They shoot suddenly and are not afraid.”
Anyone who has been the victim of gossip may feel like the psalmist who wrote, ” When I was in trouble, I called to the Lord. And he answered me. Lord, save me from liars and from those who plan evil..” Psalm 120:1-2
Proverbs 11:12-13 reads, “A person without good sense finds fault with his neighbor. But a person with understanding keeps quiet. A person who gossips can’t keep secrets. But a trustworthy person can keep a secret.”
Proverbs 17:4 makes it clear that listening to gossip is on a level with speaking gossip: “An evil person listens to evil words. A liar pays attention to cruel words,” and Proverbs 20:19 offers advice, “Gossips can’t keep secrets. So avoid people who talk too much.”
Need more? In the book of Romans gossips are grouped with slanderers, God-haters, the insolent, those who are arrogant and the boastful. The apostle Paul also wrote of his concerns about the Church at Corinth, “I am afraid that among you there may be arguing, jealousy, anger, selfish fighting, evil talk, gossip, pride, and confusion.” 2 Corinthians 12:20
The apostle James wrote a searing indictment of gossip, “A person might think he is religious. But if he says things he should not say, then he is just fooling himself. His “religion” is worth nothing.” James 1:26
And the apostle Peter offered his Amen when he wrote, “A person must do these things to enjoy life and have many, happy days. He must not say evil things. He must not tell lies.” 1 Peter 3:10
Turning again to the book of James we see the emphasis the apostles put on controlling the tongue. “We all make many mistakes. If there were a person who never said anything wrong, he would be perfect. He would be able to control his whole body, too.” James 3:2
Do we control our tongues as much as we would like to?
The Gossip’s Plan I made a plan to never say a thing that isn’t true; To never talk in whispered breath about a friend like you; To never ever gossip or lend an eager ear; It’s just the thing we’re told to do – I think I’ll start next year!
The apostle James explains, “People can tame every kind of wild animal, bird, reptile, and fish, and they have tamed them. But no one can tame the tongue. It is wild and evil. It is full of poison that can kill.” James 3:7-8
All of the scriptures this week come from the International Children’s Bible. After all, the message is one we’ve been hearing since we were kids, “If you can’t say something nice about someone, don’t say anything at all.”
Verse for the Week: Psalm 19:14 “I hope my words and thoughts please you. Lord, you are my Rock, the one who saves me.”
Blessings,
Your Friends in Christ
Because He Loves Us Press 