Gossip (Words) and You

Clutter, clutter, clutter are your thoughts!

Since the advent of  sin, (man falling from God's grace) man has been stumbling, running blindly to and fro, totally lost, (without direction) and multiplying sorrow to his life. Worry, lack of understanding, negativity, anxiety,  overwhelming circumstances, uncontrolled addiction, to name a few, are a direct result of  man's spiritual disconnection from God.

The Holy Bible, brimming with wisdom and warnings, does make available numerous scriptures qualifying this phenomena regarding gossip:

Proverbs 4: 
²⁰My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.
²¹Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.
²²For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.  
²⁴Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.

Proverbs 6:
²Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth.
¹²A naughty person, a wicked man, walketh with a froward mouth.

Proverbs 7:
 ⁶Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things.
⁷For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
 ⁸All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them

Proverbs 10:
¹¹The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.
¹⁹In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.
 ²⁰The tongue of the just is as choice silver: the heart of the wicked is little worth.
 ²¹The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom.
³¹The mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom: but the froward tongue shall be cut out.
 ³²The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked speaketh frowardness. 

Proverbs 11:
 ⁹An hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbour: but through knowledge shall the just be delivered.
¹³A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter 


Proverbs 17:
⁴A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue. 
²⁰He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.

Proverbs 18:
²¹Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

And on and on....get the picture?  People get hurt when, even if it was unintentional, words are spoken that are untrue or misunderstood.

Several ways to avoiding gossip:

• Stay busy--bless everything, speak positively about everything and everyone.  If you can't find something nice to say, say nothing.
• Crush curses (by speaking the Word) that are over you or anyone you may suspect is under a curse.  Proverbs 3: ³³The curse of the LORD is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just. 
• Change your attitude over your mouth.  Give thanks to the Lord: Psalm 100:⁴Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

Listed are a few suggestions:

• Purpose, commit, to encourage, edify (build up):  The "I didn't say anything" comment...well, that's just it, you didn't say anything!  Show, speak kindness, show mercy and compassion. Appreciate sacrifices.  Who knows, this may help in your personal relationships (ie. marriage, profession, children, family).
• Make a decision to "I will!" I will speak kindly, I will compliment, I will willing help those in need, I will, I will, I will.
• Be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.

Thinking you can't do it on your own?  You're right, you can't!  God sent his only begotten son, Jesus Christ, to save those whosoever will accept him as his/her Saviour! This means that gossip is sin and this also means that Jesus Christ took your sin to the cross.  Ask him for forgiveness for all your sins and ask him to help you with your tongue.

Use your mouth for the sake and glory of Jesus Christ and trust in Him!