Daily Devotional

Gossip

by Lise Bachman-Karnes on August 10, 2022

I used to be such a gossip! I loved the attention I got when I told some particularly salacious story. One of my good friends gossiped so much that another co-worker called her “Rumor Control Central”. When she learned something interesting, I would practically sit at her feet ready to hear.

Once I was telling some co-workers about another co-worker’s granddaughter who had dated several young men who were on probation. Now some people say I have a loud voice, I like to say my voice carries. In any case as I was talking about this man’s granddaughter, he came around the corner clearing his throat, which I believe was a signal that he heard me. I was so mortified that I couldn’t face him! I wish I could tell you that I apologized to him, but I decided to act as if it had never happened.

I have also had the misfortune of having someone tell me something about someone that I really would rather not have heard! I remember when I was told that someone I really admired was having an affair, while married, with someone I believed to be quite a schemer. It really injured my opinion of him and I hoped it wasn’t true.

I have since learned to watch my tongue. I believe all the Bible verses about thinking about following Jesus’ example had a positive effect on me. The Bible is full of admonitions about taming the tongue. The book of James speaks about it at length. It makes it clear that the tongue is a powerful tool for good or for evil:

“Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit.”  Psalm 34: 13

“If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless.”  James 1: 26

There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.”  Proverbs 12:18

“A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy person keeps a secret.”  Proverbs 11:13

I am thankful for God’s help in growing in this area.

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