Silencing the Gossip Inside All of Us
"Whoever belittles another lacks sense, but an intelligent person remains silent. A gossip goes about telling secrets, but one who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a confidence." Proverbs 11:12-13 NRSV
Boastfulness can be subtle, especially when you have a reputation for being trustworthy. There is a fine line between "adding your two cents" to a conversation or "commenting on" a topic of discussion and slipping into full-on gossip.
We would do well to ask ourselves - "did I really need to add that to the conversation?" or "was saying those words more about elevating my name than being helpful?
In an effort to choose our words carefully under pressure, we must practice the discipline of silence in the quiet places of the day. Practicing silence creates distance between our emotional mind and our tongue, and this distance gives us the necessary time to hear the still small voice of the Holy Spirit so that we might know when to speak and when to hold our tongue.
Take a minute to reflect on your conversations over the last few days. Have you, without realizing it slipped into gossip? Is it possible that you were more interested in being heard than helping the situation? Do you wish you could take back some of the words that came rolling off your tongue? Come into the presence of God, confess your sin, and if necessary, go to the person you wronged and make the relationship whole again.
RECOMMENDED READING
Sponsored
