Whoever gossips to you will gossip about you. ~Spanish Proverb
Do not repeat anything you will not sign your name to. ~Author Unknown
Gossip needn't be false to be evil - there's a lot of truth that shouldn't be passed around. ~Frank A. Clark
Trying to squash a rumor is like trying to unring a bell. ~Shana Alexander
The biggest liar in the world is They Say. ~Douglas Malloch
Who is They? And why are They talking about something that has nothing to do with them?
Does it make folks feel better when they are talking about other peoples problems? Does it make them feel better because they are not the ones that did whatever horrible thing that has happened? Does it make them feel good to think that they are in the know? What makes people eager to hear the next juicy tidbit?
So many questions that I know never will be answered. I do know that I have been on both sides of the conversation and let me tell you I have learned my lesson. Being talked about is devastating and finding out something you have repeated is not true is just as devastating. Once a rumor is told it can never be changed. That seed has been planted in the minds of others and as you know we have a hard time forgetting once it has been planted.
Proverbs 20:19
A gossip betrays a confidence; so avoid a man who talks too much.
Proverbs 11:13
A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy man keeps a secret.
Proverbs 6:16-19
There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him:
haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood,
a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil,
a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers.
We must realize how much God hates gossip. God hates to see his children hurting one another. Yet he watches us daily destroy one another with gossip.
In Philippians 4:8 Paul says we are to speak words of virtue. Words of excellence and value, words that produce good fruits, that build up the speaker, listener and everyone else. We should encourage others to do their best and comfort others when they are discouraged.
We must always be mindful of the things that we repeat and the things that we listen to. Even if what we are repeating and listening to is true. Sometimes the truth can hurt just as bad.
God is so Good!
2 comments:
Debbie,
Thanks for the challenge.... The verse that I have been trying to memorize for the last couple of weeks and it is on my desk now is Ephesians 4:29 which also provides us with great advice. "Let no corrupt word come out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers." If Christians only took these words to heart, we would turn the world upside down and truly show people how much we love and care about them. Great thoughts! Thank you so much for sharing.
Niki
1 Timothy 5:13 says so clearly, "And besides they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house, and not only idle but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not."
I would be lying if I said I haven't found myself on either side of this gossip issue. I see the pain and the problems that it causes and I beg His forgiveness and repent.
I am so thankful for your attention to this topic as I have been struggling with hearing of new "news" that seems to be traveling around. My prayer is that others would see the error of their ways and would speak only that which glorifies Him.
There is something to be said about that old saying, "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all."
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