BLESS OR CURSE

“Speak evil of no man.”

“Set a watch before my mouth. Keep the door of my lips.”

“Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.”

Amazingly, we have the hardest time with the subjects that God speaks the most about in His Word! As the old saying goes, “We don’t smoke and we don’t chew and we don’t go with girls that do…” but we gossip! Since my youth, and without letting up until this very day, talking about others seems to escape unscathed everywhere as a sin of consequence.

I think that this phenomenon is due partly to an inability, and unwillingness, to separate in our minds (and our words) innocent discussion and unnecessary and destructive conversation. However, the truth is that when we discuss another in a manner that tears them down in any way in the eyes of the other person, it is a cold and deliberate act of disobedience.

God is very unambiguous and direct in relaying His heart on the subject of gossip. People tell me often that the Bible is hard to understand. Some things are. Yet, with clarity to be understood by the youngest of Christians, God says, “Do not speak evil of anyone.”

The secret to peace in relationships is found in verses such as this: “He who covers over an offense promotes love, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.” (Proverbs 17:9) “Repeating” even a derogatory sentence or two of what you know, what you think, what you heard or what you have seen, separates husbands and wives, sisters, brothers, church members, colleagues, whole families, whole churches, whole companies. It’s true because God says it is true, and as life goes on, I see it to be true again and again.

Evidently, our words and their consequences are important to God, for His Word is full of admonitions and even warnings on the subject. Do a study on “mouth” and “lips” and “talebearer.” If you have even a smidgen of a heart of obedience to the Lord, you will stop gossiping, even “little white” gossiping!

Start with James 3. Before you read it, pray. Promise God that you will listen with a completely open heart as you read. It will change your way of life.

In black and white, here is the test: Do you ever at all discuss the life of another, telling things that no one else needs to know? Is this behavior a part of your life in any measure? If your answer is not “no,” then you are a talebearer. There are not different levels of talebearers, in my opinion. If you have not purposed in your heart to let information die with you, then you either are an active talebearer or one just waiting for the right opportunity!

It’s easy to talk about others and sound wise and knowledgeable, but if you cause your listener to think less of the person in question, then your talk is wrong. Your speech is divisive and the last verses of James 3 clear up the origin of such divisiveness. God says it is wrong! And one more thing…people who feel free to gossip to you, feel free to gossip about you!