Juicy Juicy Gossip

Gossip is something many of us enjoy... It serves a craving within all of us. The craving of comparison. To know who is better than yourself and what makes them so, and to know who is worse than yourself and what makes them so?

Gossip is so enticing, it attracts the highest levels of attention among females. Just the thought of what may be happening in someone else's life (especially someone of interest to us) triggers a light bulb in our minds!

But is it right? No it is not. And for several reasons;

• ·        It breeds discontent in us when we compare with those who are enjoying a better life.
• ·        It breeds jealousy and envy in us as well, of people who have what we would like to have.
• ·        It fuels pride in us when we feel like we are better than those we are hearing or talking about.
• ·        It creates ground for slander and defamation (most gossip is presumptuous and wrong).
• ·        It breaks trust.

Proverbs 20:19 “Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets; therefore do not associate with a simple babbler.”

Proverbs 16:28 “A dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends.”

Ephesians 4:29 “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.”

Colossians 4:6 "Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man."

So, if you have been prone to gossip, train yourself to do something new. Before you talk about someone, ask yourself, “Is it loving? Is it really true? Would I like the same word to be spread about me?”

 If the answer to any of those questions is ‘no’, drop it! Just drop it.

And when subjected to gossip, ask yourself, “Why tell me that?  Is it really true? Is it loving? Would I like the same word to be spread about me?”

If any of those answers is negative, opt out! Just opt out.