Skip to main content

March 28 A Little Birdy Told Me

A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy person keeps a confidence. ~Proverbs 11:13

The words of a gossip are like choice morsels. They go down to the inmost part of a person. ~Proverbs 18:8 & 26:22

A gossip betrays a confidence. So, avoid a person who talks too much. ~Proverbs 20:19

Without wood a fire dies out. Without gossip a quarrel dies down. As charcoal to embers and as wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife. ~Proverbs 26:20-21

Do not revile the king even in your thoughts, or curse the rich in your bedroom, because a bird of the air may carry your words, and a bird on the wing may report what you say. ~Ecclesiastes 10:29

Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. ~2 Timothy 2:16

The Bible certainly has a lot to say about gossip. Solomon keeps returning to this theme again and again. We know that it’s wrong and we know that we shouldn’t do it. We know the best way to stop it is to not participate. We’ve been through all this already. God doesn’t like it, especially because it usually involves saying something that isn’t quite true, as in lying, to be more specific, and God hates lying lips. What else could there possibly be to say?

Did you notice in the Proverbs above that one of them is repeated? “The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to the inmost part of a person.” ~Proverbs 18:8 & 26:22

Jesus talked about the inmost part of our being when He said: “Out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. These are what make a person unclean.” (Matthew 15:19-20A) This proverb is warning us that it’s not just what comes out that makes us unclean, but what goes into the heart as well. It admits that gossip is a choice morsel, meaning that we find it tasty to receive and share. What we may not be as aware of in all this giving and taking is how participating in the activity of gossip changes us, right down to our core, or our inmost self.

How can you not change when you are choosing a constant diet of unhealthy, unkind thinking? Your attitude toward others, especially the subjects of the gossip, will inevitably be influenced, at least subtly, when you hear mostly negative, and probably inaccurate information about another. It’s not just what gossip does to others as the victim that concerns Solomon here. He’s warning that it also changes you, at your core.

His advice, echoed by Paul, “avoid Godless chatter.” And gossip IS Godless chatter. It benefits no one, especially you. Even when talking about our rulers, and I know that this can be a real challenge, it’s better to exercise caution in airing our complaints and opinions. You just never know where it will lead. But we do know that those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly.

We do better to be known as, “a trustworthy person (who) keeps a confidence.” Rather than air what we know, or what we think we know, it would be more awesome to be known as a prayer warrior who takes concerns to Jesus, rather than shares them among others. If you have ever been a gossip, do you think that you are the only one who knows that? How would your reputation change if you could be known as a person of prayer instead of someone who gossips? Wouldn’t it be better to gain the trust of others and strengthen your relationship with our Lord? There is so much blessing in this both for us and others. Let’s put our leashed tongues to good use and take the concerns that we have for others to our heavenly Father today and in so doing, gain the trust and confidence of those around us.

Prayer: Father we acknowledge again how hard it is to control the tongue. Help us to listen well, with compassion and concern, and turn to You, after what he hear, for a time of prayer to intercede on behalf of folks we love. Also, help us Lord, to recognize when gossip is being presented to us, decline the “tasty morsel,” and love the gossiper by gently rebuking them with Your wisdom. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Song: Sweet Hour of Prayer

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

211. The Sons of Thunder's Request

Matthew 20:20-28 , Mark 10:35-45 , Key verse: "Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all." Mark 10:43B-44 In our readings for yesterday, in which Jesus outlined what was about to happen to Him, for His disciples, the passage in Luke ends: "The disciples did not understand any of this. It's meaning was hidden from them, and they did not know what He was talking about." ( Luke 18:34 ) Now, we see just how truly clueless they were. Jesus had laid out a plan before them of pain and suffering and death and now James and John are focused on a promotion. The disconnect is so obvious. It's really not important to know whether James and john came up with this request on their own or if their mother put them up to it. The request was made and James and John thought that they could handle the responsibility that would come with it. What is that saying, "Fools rush in where angels fe...

204. Come Like a Child

Psalm 127 , Matthew 19:13-15 , Luke 18:15-17 , Mark 10:13-16 Key Verse: Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." Matthew 19:14 The attitude of the disciples isn't much different than the attitude of many people, even Christians, today. Instead of seeing children as a blessing from the Lord, too many regard them as a burden to bear that gets in the way of our own selfish happiness. Family size is determined by what we think we can afford rather than openness to God's blessing, trusting God to provide. Satan hates children. Children represent innocence. The sooner he can corrupt and or damage a child, the happier he is. This is why Jesus warned in Matthew 18:6: "If anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drown in the depths of the sea." To corrupt or damage ...

174. Pleading for the Fig Tree

Proverbs 27:18 , Luke 13:6-9 Key Verse: He who tends a fig tree will eat its fruit, and he who looks after his master will be honored. Proverbs 27:18 We have here three main characters: a master, who acquired the tree in hopes of eventually enjoying its fruit, a servant, who looks to the tree to reflect his care and attention, and lastly, the tree itself. The master has the right to expect his investment to pay off. The servant, who has obviously put much effort into the tree, would also like to see fruit. The servant's interest is not only to show his own talent in gardening, but because he wants to please his master. Both the servant and the master are dependent upon the tree to do what it was designed to do. Their little parable is an interesting way for Jesus to finish off His exhortation to, "repent or perish."  God is the Master. He had a purpose for you before you were even born. ( Jeremiah 1:5 & Psalm 139:16 ) He planted you on this earth to ful...