Gossip

DEVOTION

PROVERBS

GOSSIP

Prov 20:19

19 A gossip betrays a confidence; so avoid a man who talks too much.

NIV

Gossip may be one of the most destructive devices of the tongue. It destroys both the person who speaks it and the one spoken of. It ruins the reputation of the speaker and the spoken of. Yet it is so seductive at the same time. We are continually being tempted to spread the news about what happened to someone else, or what they said, or did. Gossip is also no friend to the hearer. What is the hearer to do with this tidbit of information? Should they retain it, or pass it on? The speaker has certainly done a very dirty deed to the hearer. They have put temptation right there before them. There is a rule we need to abide by, a rule we are not sure how or who it was started by, but nevertheless a very good one. If we are not part of the problem or the solution, we do not need to know about it. This is the reason we should avoid those who spread gossip. That may be impossible to do if we work or live or church with a gossip. It is certainly not Christ-like to ignore someone completely or turn away, walk away whenever they come into our presence. They may even walk right up to us and start talking. How can we avoid them? The idea conveyed in the Hebrew is to not associate or fellowship with a gossip. That simply means we are not to become engaged in their talk about other people which is a secret. Surely it is alright to comment about someone who has openly told something about themselves such as took a new job, or moved, or lost their dog, or bought a new home, car, or whatever. Life is about conversations which include what people in common are doing. But to reveal a secret, to tell someone something which was shared in private betrays the confidence which was given. If we betray that confidence we might well not only lose a friend, but lose ourselves, our reputation as a friend. It would behoove us to remain far away from the gossip. Would it be appropriate to inform the gossip they are doing wrong and should stop their tongue?