So what were you thinking about when you read the title?

Maybe you were thinking I was going to tell you about some cool revelation God was sharing with me.  Or I might want to share with you the latest on the family scene.  Maybe even some cool news from around here at the Leaf?  Although, if truth be told, I bet a lot of you started thinking I had a secret to share with you. SSSSHHHH!

Maybe some little tidbit of information about someone that you and I both know.  Yeah, I bet that’s it.  We can’t help it. There is this desire within all of us to be all up in other people’s business.

According to the scriptures this is called GOSSIP.  And God looks at it as SIN.  Let’s push a little further…

Some of you, I know because I’ve heard it, just have this need to vent about someone.  OK, I understand that but let’s make a little distinction between the two.

  • Venting – Helps you process out problems and usually you don’t have to mention someone by name to discuss it.  There is a recognition by you of having harsh feelings and there is a seeking out of wise counsel on your part to confront sin in your or someone else’s life…
  • Gossip – Information that is told to help you feel better about yourself and you like to drop names.  It helps with your self-esteem by sharing secrets/information about others.  It becomes an act of comparison.  In the worst case scenario you are sharing with someone with the intent to make yourself look better while defacing someone else…

Let’s push a little further…

Gossip up front looks like you having a discussion with a friend over the events of the day.  I mean, it is always about someone right?  When was the last time you just talked about yourself?  When was the last time you asked how someone was doing and actually listened to what they were saying?  Gossip is busy chatter.  It wastes time.  So if you have been talking a while about other people and there has been no revelations about anyone then that would be your clue that this could be gossip…

Gossip in nature is destructive for other people because you are slandering someones name.   But look at what the scripture says about the effects on the gossiper and the listener.

“The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to a man’s inmost parts.” Prov. 18:8 NIV

That is to say, you begin to consume the words that you are saying or hearing like good food.  It begins to sustain you.  You live for the next bit of juicy info that might make you happy.  At this point it has become like a bad habit and you can’t stop.  Now you are wasting time talking about others instead of sharing with people about God.  You are wasting time looking for your next hit of news instead of caring for those involved in these stories.  You’re wasting time probing people for info and calling around being a pushy, nosy, busy-body.

YOU ARE WASTING TIME!

Lastly, and I hate to say this, just like men are more prone to be involved in the sin of pride I see ladies having more of a problem in this area.  Now please don’t hate the messenger but I think I know why.

Women are so much more prone to love and nurture than men are.  As men we don’t understand this.  We don’t always get that empathy thing for others.  But here is the trap.  Since they are prone to be involved with people, talking about others becomes a part of your every day life.  You can’t get away from it.  Just like any other sin what starts out as innocent becomes a full blown addiction of gossip where we hide under the appearance of helping others while all we are doing is looking for the next bit of information “morsel” that would satisfy us.

Funny thing though, sin never satisfies….

P.S.  For the record let it be known I have caught myself gossiping as well.  It’s not just a ‘ladie’s’ thing.  So guys don’t get on your high horse :) .