Gossip can quickly disempower the spirit. Gossip is negative, petty, and destructive. It is an addictive bad habit for the gossiper. Gossip will push the gossiper, and those around him, to the lowest spiritual level.
If all that is not bad enough, God considers gossip to be a serious sin in the same league as murder, hatred of God, and other iniquities. (Romans 1: 28-32) Gossipers do not have the right fellowship with God.
“A gossip betrays a trust; so avoid a man who talks too much.” – Proverbs 20:19 VIN
Good harmless fun or destructive gossip?
I am sure you will agree that gossip is something we should not take lightly. What is truly unfortunate is the fact that most Christians do not regard gossip as sin or evil. At best, they consider it a petty bad habit.
Gossip is a key factor that hinders the growth of prosperity in many people’s lives. And sadly, it is rarely recognized. Almost instantly, without a second thought, gossipers will let rumors, profanity, confidential information, and malicious, idle talk pour out of their mouths.
If only they knew the damage they are causing! The Bible tells us that a Christian whose mouth is out of control deceives his own heart and his religion is worthless. (James 1:26)
Let’s face it: gossip isn’t harmless, it’s a lot of fun. It carries a negative tone of abuse that is often demeaning, judgmental, critical, hurtful and hurtful. That is why God has a lot to say about it and warns us of its destructiveness.
Deal with gossip
Everywhere from family, work, school to church, gossip has become a common destructive factor. It’s clearly evident that meddlers are everywhere these days. But the question we must ask ourselves is: “Am I guilty of gossip?”
Gossip is often disguised as concern for others or as asking for prayer. However, whenever others are spoken of in an unfavorable way, there is gossip.
Remember: gossip is a sin that separates us from God and hinders our prosperity. God does not bless sin. Gossipers often face inexplicable problems and rarely get their prayers answered. (Psalm 66:18, John 9:31)
“He who guards his lips keeps his life, but he who speaks recklessly will be ruined.” – Proverbs 13: 3 NIV
Tips for dealing with gossip:
AWARENESS. We all have a tendency to gossip from time to time. To overcome this trend and have a more spirited and gossip-free life, you need to be vigilant when it happens.
PRAYER. It doesn’t matter if you are struggling with a gossip addiction or are a victim of gossip, turning to God in prayer is a must. As a gossiper, repent and ask for forgiveness and pray for God to help you take control of your words and turn them into words of encouragement. As a victim, pray that God will bless the other person and help them to be free while helping you maintain a loving and forgiving heart.
TO AVOID. Stay away from other people’s affairs and avoid associating with those who gossip. Refusing to participate in gossip.
CHOOSE. Decide to speak words of encouragement, hope, and love. Steer conversations in a positive direction. Choose to be silent if you only have destructive words of gossip on your lips.
LOVE. Walk in love and talk to gossipers directly and privately to try and solve your problems with them. If confronted for gossiping, be humble and lovingly willing to solve their problems.
Trust me: Gossip can spread quickly like a deadly infection. Don’t ignore the destruction that comes with it. You can put an end to the negative spirit of gossip and choose to walk in love and a higher spiritual level in life.
May your mouth always speak words of encouragement and may your life be filled with increasing prosperity!