A gossiper behaves like Satan, who is called “the accuser of the brethren” ( Revelation 12:9,10). How will we use our tongues, for good or evil, for healing or hurting, or for praise? Jesus Christ saved us from evil practices. The tongue of the wise, however, brings healing, not hurt. Often tales are shared with the express intent to hurt others. Is gossip harmful? Yes! Without a doubt, it is damaging. The words of a gossip are like choice morsels they go down to a man’s inmost parts (Proverbs 18:8 and 26:22, NIV)Ī lying tongue hates those it hurts, and a flattering mouth works ruin (Proverbs 26:28, (NIV). Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing (Proverbs 12:18, NIV).Ī perverse man stirs up dissension, and a gossip separates close friends (Proverbs 16:28, NIV). ** Is this true, or can words really hurt people? We may have heard or repeated this common saying, “Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never harm me.” Questioning the motives of a person who tells tales will usually stop her in her tracks. We can challenge a talebearer by asking if what she shared is absolutely true and why she is sharing it with you.We should avoid making friends with a gossiper.Instead, we can change the subject, share something positive about that person, or praise the Lord for something else. In other words, if we know additional information or rumors about a person, we should consider how sharing it with others might be harmful to her we should avoid adding fuel to the fire. King Solomon says, “Without wood a fire goes out without gossip a quarrel dies down” (Proverbs 26:20, NIV). We should not add to the stories of someone’s life.What are some ways to stop a gossiping person? Sometimes knowing this “additional information” can cause our feelings to change about a person, whether what is shared is true or false. We should not listen to a talebearer there are many things we do not need to know. If she shares secrets about others, she will sooner or later share our secrets. We certainly do not want to tell the gossiper secrets, even if we might consider her a good friend in other ways. Perhaps we do not talk too much, but we know someone who does. Warning about GossipersĪ gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy man keeps a secret (Proverbs 11:13, NIV).Ī gossip betrays a confidence so avoid a man who talks too much (Proverbs 20:19, NIV). There are so many things to praise the LORD for that there should be no room for gossip. He tells us to “taste and see that the LORD is good blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.” In another Psalm it is written, “How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” (119:103, NIV) David writes again, “I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart I will tell of all your wonders” (Psalm 9:1, NIV). King David, Solomon’s father, was also a poet. Instead of opening up the secrets of others, we should open up the treasures in God’s Word, the Bible. And, when people have nothing worthwhile to say, they often gossip, opening up other people’s secrets and adding their own flavor to the stories, with hopes they will be even more juicy and sweet to the taste. However, we know the stories are juicy and sweet, and it is difficult to resist. In the same way, we know we should not open up people’s lives and let others see what is in the wrapped morsels. Gossip is like a box of someone else’s candy sitting on a table-we want to open it up and take one when we know we should not. Do we talk too much? If we do, it is tempting to gossip. “When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise” (Proverbs 10:19, NIV). In this book, he wrote many things about gossip. The LORD gave him great insights into all of life, and people came from great distances to listen to him. He was the wisest man who ever lived (and the wealthiest). King Solomon wrote most of these wise sayings when he was at the height of his reign. In today’s Bible reading, we are in the book of Proverbs. We laugh at that song! Then the comedy routine continues with juicy morsels of “truth” shared about their neighbors, and again we all laugh. Now, we’re not ones to go ‘round spreadin’ rumors, Why, really we’re just not the gossipy kind, No, you’ll never hear one of us repeating gossip, So you’d better be sure and listen close the first time! One of the scenarios from the show featured various female members of the cast surrounding a washtub and clothes wringer singing: It aired on CBS-TV from 1969–1971 before a twenty-year run in local syndication. “Hee Haw” was an American television variety show featuring country music and humor with fictional rural Kornfield Kounty as a backdrop. Go to today’s Bible reading (use your browser arrow to return): Proverbs 25–27 Is Gossip so Bad?
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