Gossips
Gossips can be extremely painful. We suffered from the wounds of careless words one time of another. We have felt the isolation and rejection they bring. So, why would any of us gossip?
Gossip is reckless or careless word that wound. What it lacks in nutritional value it makes up for in taste. It overdresses trivia that has power to penetrate deep into the soul. It is a negligent scattering of ungrounded accusations and misrepresenttions. It has no accountability, secretive and selective and its real agenda is always well hidden.
We become prey of jealousy when we mistakenly believe God's favour towards one person indicates His disfavour toward us. Jealousy breeds competition, which is fueled by gossips. Covetousness, desiring what God has given another, is an offspiring of jealousy. We are tempted to gossip when we perceived someone else's favour, provision or position as a deduction from God's ability to bless, protect or provide for us.
Is Gossip limited to spoken word?
Gossip is not limited to what is spoken. Often the most difficult and destructive gossip to share is what you have heard. As you listened, your own soul is defiled.
Gossip is rooted in unbelief and watered by fear. We fall prey to gossip when we are afraid to trust God to uphold us in truth. We malign others because we believe our worth is tied to theirs. To get rid yourself of the fruit of gossip, you need to ax the root that is nourishing the tree and fruit. To heal the wounds of gossip is to speak words in answer that contain wisdom and promote reconciliation. Giving our vision of story to the gossiper about how the offender hurt us would not bring healings.
To safeguard yourself from gossiper, ask yourself these questions:
1. Why are they telling me this?
2. Are they confessing their reaction to the offenses or just repeating it to influence me?
3. Have they gone to the individual who offended them?
4. Are they asking me to go with thme so restoration can take place?
5. Am I in a position to help them?
If the answers to above are unclear, then, you are not the one they should speak to, but the one who offended them.
The one who gossips to you, gossips of you.
"Without wood a fire goes out; without gossip a quarrel dies down" Prov 26:20
"Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you will be like him yourself" Prov 26:4
"He who covers over an offense promotes love, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends." Prov 17:9
Reference: Lisa Bevere "Understanding Your True Measure"
Posted in: Attitude on Tuesday, April 15, 2008 at at 9:29 PM