Gossip Burns a Path

The older I get the more I learn the importance of heeding Biblical counsel. When God says we are not to do something He does so for a very good reason. We are told to not gossip, and, we will give an account for our words – for every little idle word we speak. Truly, we need to pay attention to this very important exhortation. It should cultivate a heart attitude of fear. In response, we should ever be praying for a guard to be placed over our mouths, lest we speak to rashly or quickly.

Please, please pay attention, and be cautioned to not be caught up in gossip. You will be called to give an account of your words.

The tongue is the most destructive force I have ever known. It destroys relationships between friends and families – it divides and ruins churches. Often the destruction is so vast that restoration never occurs. At the root of gossip is deceit – an evil tongue. Please be reminded the very first sin in Eden was through deceptive words – words that challenged what was true. Forever mankind lives the consequence of deceitful words.

Today, gossip is no different. The intent of gossip is to gain favor and then win others to your

position – to believe you, side with you, and act with you. Just as the serpent bent the truth just a bit to gain favor, to entice, and sway Eve to doubt, the same is true of a gossips agenda today.

1. Tell your story. Let it be exhilarating enough – titillating to the ear – to hook your listener to hear more.

2. Establish doubt to cultivate empathy, sympathy.

3. Encourage camaraderie.

4. Invite them to join your position – to side with you. Now you have an ally.

5. Allies join for action. Action positions for defending against the one whom gossiped about.

6. Defenses create separation and division. More to gossip about. The fire is lit and gossip fans – blowing the story around!

7. Gossip grows, breaking relationship. The forest is set aflame.

8. Evil has done its work. Evil perpetuates gossip. Ashes of destruction are left. An acrid smell fills the air.

The tongue causes so much damage, doesn’t it? How about you, what do you use your tongue to do?

• We all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell (James 3:2-6).

• I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak (Matthew 12:36).

• Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips (Psalm 141:3).

• 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 (Ephesians 4:29).

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