Gossip: not on my watch!

Gossip. It wrecks trust, kills reputations and can completely spiral out of control. And that's just the consequences for our on-earth lives, without even getting into what it does to our relationship with God. Yet, we all still feel (and often give in to) the temptation to talk about that one person/thing, just a little bit. Proverbs 18:8 acknowledges that; we really can relish and swallow gossip easily.

There's something about knocking someone down a peg or two, even behind their back, that makes us feel a bit better about ourselves. This common human reaction is so different to the godly model in Romans 12:15 NIV: 'Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.' At its root, gossip is self-centred; it's more to do with our own worries about how well-liked/Christian/good-looking/whatever people think we are. This may sound like a motivational poster, but... other people's successes are not our failures, and their failures aren't our successes.

So, let's let go of any inclination to talk about others' weaknesses and awkward moments. Let's develop Jesus-like concern for those around us. Let our first response be joy for the joyful and heartbreak for the distraught. Then, bad-mouthing others wouldn't even feature as an option.



So what now? When you're next around a conversation that gets a bit gossipy, try steer the conversation to an interesting idea instead. Don't be associated with gossip - it is extremely destructive.





— SCRIPTURE —

'The words of a gossip ... go down to the inmost parts.' Proverbs 18:8 NIV
— SOULFOOD —

Josh 22-24, Mark 10:35-52, Ps 142, Pro 23:7-9