JANUARY 16, Proverbs 11:13

What is gossip? Gossip is telling unpleasant and usually untrue things or secrets of other people behind their backs. That includes telling things in emails and chats through the computer. It is carrying tales about people which they do not want others to know.

Gossip can hurt the persons you talk about and the persons you talk to. Most of all, it hurts God. God looks at gossip as idle talk and He will judge us for every idle word we utter. So, it also hurts the talebearer. God wants us to be faithful friends to each other.

Let us take a look at a scenario which shows what gossip can do to three friends:

“I’m not going to talk to Tammie anymore. She’s so lazy that she borrowed my Maths book to copy. Now she has forgotten to bring it. She cannot be trusted,” Candice complained to her friend, Linda.

Later, Tammie came charging angrily at Candice. Tammie stared at her and fiercely said, “You don’t have to tell everybody bad things about me. I borrowed your book once but how many times have I lent you my books?” With that, she stormed off. Linda had earlier gone to tell Tammie what Candice had said.

Now, who started this mess? Linda? Yes, the right thing for her to do was to point out to Candice that it is wrong to carry tales about Tammie. Instead of gossiping, Linda could have been a peacemaker. One piece of gossip can really break friends up.

Based on the incident, check out if the following statements are true or false:

1. A faithful friend will try to stop a gossip and tell the talebearer her fault.                T/F
2. Whatever Candice said about Tammie was true.                                                           T/F
3. Linda was being a faithful friend to Tammie by telling her what Candice said.       T/F

Thought: Be a faithful friend, not a great gossiper.

Prayer: Father in Heaven, guard my heart and tongue. Teach me to faithfully obey Your Word and help me to control what I say so that I will not hurt my family and friends by being a talebearer. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.