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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

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