| 1:51 MIN READ |

Part of the ugly side of human nature is the insatiable appetite people have to seek out and share negative information about others. It’s called gossip. The Bible describes it as sinful and destructive, to others and to us.

Here are a few strong reminders:

Psalm 15:1-3 (TLB) “Lord, who may go and find refuge and shelter in your tabernacle up on your holy hill? Anyone who leads a blameless life and is truly sincere. Anyone who refuses to slander others, does not listen to gossip, never harms his neighbor.”

Proverbs 11:13 (TLB) “A gossip goes around spreading rumors, while a trustworthy man tries to quiet them.”

Proverbs 20:19 (TLB) “Don’t tell your secrets to a gossip unless you want them broadcast to the world.”

Proverbs 26:20 (TLB) “Fire goes out for lack of fuel, and tensions disappear when gossip stops.”

What makes gossip so attractive to us?

Often the need to spread rumors and damaging words to others about others is rooted in pride. In a strange way, when we put down others, we elevate ourselves. Gossip gives us a sense of moral, intellectual, or professional superiority. We feed the monster of ego by tearing into someone else.

The truth is, gossip says more about the person doing the gossiping than it does about the person who’s the focus of it. And you can be sure if you have a “friend” who gossips to you about others, it highly likely that they’re gossiping to others about you!

Gossip is bad for many reasons. A primary reason is that it runs counter to the nature of God. God is a Redeemer. Gossip is never redemptive, it’s always destructive. It never builds, restores, and heals. It tears, erodes, and diminishes.

The next time someone says to you, “Did you hear about… ?” pause. Make sure your conversations are always redemptive and never destructive. Let God’s nature be your nature!

Pastor Dale

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