Gossip
Posted on February 2, 2015 by Graeme Wilson in Victory Call
Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed or hidden that will not be known. Therefore, whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed on the house tops. Luke 12:23-3
I have read these verses dozens and dozens of times, so why, on THIS day, did it leap off the page into my heart? My first instinct was to write in the margin of my Bible… “Imagine if this was true”, a silly thing to write in the margin of God’s Word. What I meant was, imagine experiencing that in reality. Just think about it… You know those conversations we have when we lower our voices so we are not overheard. The statements we make about others that are sarcastic or unkind. The information we pass along that we have no business passing along. Imagine those things we said “in confidence” about others being proclaimed on the wide screen display, or posted on the bulletin board at work, or broadcast on the 6 o’clock news.
Don’t we gossip because we figure no one else will hear?
God hears.
All of us have fodder in our lives for others to gossip about. How do we want others to guard our reputations? Do we not owe that same consideration to others? It seems to me gossip is a manifestation of pride. At the unspoken core of our gossip is the belief I am better than them or I know better than them. I would not do what they are doing. Do you hear the proud heart?
I really want to take myself to task in this area. I not only want to hold myself accountable to not talk about others but I also want to be courageous enough to stop others when they are whispering in MY ear. It takes courage and humility.
… Therefore, whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed on the house tops… Luke 12:2-3
Will you join me?
Blessings, Diane
Diane Hunt is part of the Development and Addiction Recovery teams at America’s Keswick. In addition to being a Biblical Counselor, she is a Women’s speaker for retreats, conferences and events. She is a regular writer for Victory Call and one of the authors of Crossing the Jordan Bible Study. She has been married to her husband John for 30 years. She has 2 adult children, 4 grandchildren, 3 adult step-children with 7 grandchildren making 11 in all. She delights in reading and teaching, but mostly in laughing at the funny things her grandchildren say and do.