Sharing a devotional with you today from Proverbs 16:28 – Gossip
Verse 28 says, “28 A perverse person stirs up conflict, and a gossip separates close friends.“
All of us have gossiped before. All of us have either been the one who stirs up conflict by speaking maliciously against someone else or have been a recipient to it. No matter it was done intentionally or unintentionally, when we gossip or talk bad behind someone else, it will cause friction to that relationship. The passage calls the one who stirs up such conflict as a perverse person. Rightly so because wickedness that comes out from our lips reflects the wickedness we have in our hearts. Gossip is the result of that wickedness. It is stepping down on others so that we can be lifted up. It is outright telling someone that you’re better than them which in reality, is not the case. As we gossip, a deadly poison will slowly seep into people’s hearts and minds. which will change the imagery we have of someone. From good to poor and from poor to bad. Nothing good ever comes out from gossiping and speaking poorly behind someone else. Whether or not there is truth behind the gossip is not the point. The point is, the person we’re gossiping about and the person hearing about the gossip, both parties will slowly formulate negative imagery of that person which will in turn lead them to label that person negatively and mistreating them. Let me say it again, “Gossip creates a negative image of that person which will directly cause us to think poorly of them and in turn treating them poorly.” When our minds are poisoned with negative thoughts about that person, is it easier or harder to love that person? Gossip is the very thing that can destroy and separate our closest relationships. If we want to treasure our relationships and protect the relationships of others, we need to not only guard our lips, but we first have to guard our hearts.
May God fill our hearts with love. May God also give us wisdom so that we can guard our tongues and how we ought to speak about someone else. May we filter our words, or even better yet, have self control not to say anything at all if it’s not something that will build up the person listening in. May God give us that sensitivity so that we can bring life with our words instead of causing tension and division with them. Gossip separates close friends, but a word that builds up and edifies will bring people together.
How will you use your words today to bring life to others? May the Lord lead you into doing what is pleasing in His eyes.
Blessings,
Kelsey