Are you indulging?
TODAY'S PROVERB: The words of a gossip are tasty morsels, going down into one’s innermost being. Proverbs 18:8
There was a potato chip commercial that had the tag, "No one can eat just one." Gossip is a lot like potato chips, for most of us, once we eat one, we crave more. And, before we know it, we've "eaten" the whole bag.
I wonder, if the "eater" of gossip was as guilty of sin as the "server" of gossip, would gossip be so rampant these days?
Gossip treats another's life as fast food. It's spiritual cannibalism. It matters not if the information is true or not, the gossiper loves to serve up the snack and leave their guests wanting more.
I think gossipers like being in control. Control of the person they are talking about, and the person they are feeding the junk to.
There was a wise saying my grandmother used to say, "If you can't say anything nice about someone, don't say anything at all." That's actually a lovely paraphrase of Proverbs 11:13, "A gossip reveals secrets, but one who is trustworthy conceals a matter." I'd go a step further with grandma's saying, "Even if it's a nice secret, it's not yours to tell."
When is talking about someone NOT gossip? When we're given permission. For example, if our story is published. So, I can talk about Moses because he publicly shared his story. But what if I knew a secret about him? That I can't share.
Sharing our life has become so common place, we don't realize we're leaving ourselves open to gossip and ridicule by people who don't know us or care about us. Social media now contains a whole vista of fodder for gossips. It's so easy--we can just click "share" and off it goes. Do we know it's true? Does it edify? Is it revealing secrets? I would say we don't know most of the time.
Reality TV has awoken an appetite for gossip. News has become so sensationalized one can barely find the truth. It's everywhere, my friends.
What would the world look like if we adhered to GOD's word? If we walked wisdom's journey purposefully?
We'd probably be back to only 3-4 channels and half the number of magazines and books. The words "unauthorized biography" would never appear on the cover of a book. Bullying would be nearly non-existent.
What we talk about could be deeper discussions of Biblical truths, fine arts, history, gardening, the latest fashion or vehicle, parenting, life, even the weather. Topics that could edify, inform, and teach.
It won't make the world a perfect place, but it would dial us back to a gentler, kinder place. A place where people would feel safe. Where we "dine" on healthy foods of goodwill and peace. And that's a meal worth having.
May we abstain from gossip, my friends.
Proverbs 18:8, Tree of Life Bible Society, Tree of Life Version - TLV #tlvbible #tlvproverbs
[WATCH Tree of Life Bible Society's CEO, Daniah Greenberg and me, Terri Gillespie, Author dig a little deeper with this proverb. Check us out at Tree of Life Bible Society, Monday through Friday, LIVE at 8:30am EST. Watch previous episodes there as well. Stay wise, my friends!]
There was a potato chip commercial that had the tag, "No one can eat just one." Gossip is a lot like potato chips, for most of us, once we eat one, we crave more. And, before we know it, we've "eaten" the whole bag.
I wonder, if the "eater" of gossip was as guilty of sin as the "server" of gossip, would gossip be so rampant these days?
Gossip treats another's life as fast food. It's spiritual cannibalism. It matters not if the information is true or not, the gossiper loves to serve up the snack and leave their guests wanting more.
I think gossipers like being in control. Control of the person they are talking about, and the person they are feeding the junk to.
There was a wise saying my grandmother used to say, "If you can't say anything nice about someone, don't say anything at all." That's actually a lovely paraphrase of Proverbs 11:13, "A gossip reveals secrets, but one who is trustworthy conceals a matter." I'd go a step further with grandma's saying, "Even if it's a nice secret, it's not yours to tell."
When is talking about someone NOT gossip? When we're given permission. For example, if our story is published. So, I can talk about Moses because he publicly shared his story. But what if I knew a secret about him? That I can't share.
Sharing our life has become so common place, we don't realize we're leaving ourselves open to gossip and ridicule by people who don't know us or care about us. Social media now contains a whole vista of fodder for gossips. It's so easy--we can just click "share" and off it goes. Do we know it's true? Does it edify? Is it revealing secrets? I would say we don't know most of the time.
Reality TV has awoken an appetite for gossip. News has become so sensationalized one can barely find the truth. It's everywhere, my friends.
What would the world look like if we adhered to GOD's word? If we walked wisdom's journey purposefully?
We'd probably be back to only 3-4 channels and half the number of magazines and books. The words "unauthorized biography" would never appear on the cover of a book. Bullying would be nearly non-existent.
What we talk about could be deeper discussions of Biblical truths, fine arts, history, gardening, the latest fashion or vehicle, parenting, life, even the weather. Topics that could edify, inform, and teach.
It won't make the world a perfect place, but it would dial us back to a gentler, kinder place. A place where people would feel safe. Where we "dine" on healthy foods of goodwill and peace. And that's a meal worth having.
May we abstain from gossip, my friends.
Proverbs 18:8, Tree of Life Bible Society, Tree of Life Version - TLV #tlvbible #tlvproverbs
[WATCH Tree of Life Bible Society's CEO, Daniah Greenberg and me, Terri Gillespie, Author dig a little deeper with this proverb. Check us out at Tree of Life Bible Society, Monday through Friday, LIVE at 8:30am EST. Watch previous episodes there as well. Stay wise, my friends!]
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