Daily Devotional, Sept 05, 2023 No such thing as harmless gossip
"Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips." Psalm 141:3
Gossip-based entertainment shows, websites and social media accounts are some of the most followed pages of today. People tend to blindly consume the information propagated in these pages which are usually about the personal lives of stars, influencers, and other public figures.
Likewise, our present society has normalized over-sharing of life updates, personal information and opinions, and even airing of dirty laundry. Something that could lead some people to talk about other people’s lives. As Christians though we are being called to mind our own business and live quiet lives. In his first letter to the Thessalonians, St. Paul said “make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands, just as we commanded you” (4:11).
And while today’s world encourages spontaneous offering of even the most personal details of one’s life, the bible discourages us from talking too much about ourselves and other people. In Proverbs 10:19 it says “When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable; But he who restrains his lips is wise.”
Moreso, twisting information that results to maligning of another person’s character is a clear disobedience to the Lord as stated in the Book of Leviticus: “You shall not go about as a slanderer among your people, and you are not to act against the life of your neighbor; I am the Lord.” (19:16)
At the end of the day, there is no such thing as harmless gossip. Yes, even if the information is handed to us by the person concerned. We should honor the trust that that person has given us and not in anyway say anything that will have an impact on his reputation.
Even when a person publicly proclaims something that could spark rumor mongering, let us turn our backs and guard our lips into talking about these kinds of things because it does not please the Lord. As St. Paul reminds us in his Letter to the Ephesians: “Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.”
At the end of the day, it is all about upholding the Lord’s command to love one another. There is no such thing as harmless gossiping and rumor mongering, because the subject of these malicious talks always end up getting hurt as she discovers that she is being judged by others.
Thank you for reading through our devotional today. I invite you to ponder on 1 Timothy 5:11-15 and Proverbs 18:6-7 to dig deeper on today’s topic.
Reflection Question: Do you enjoy “harmlessly” discussing other people’s life updates with another friend? If yes, what alternative topic can you discuss with the same friend so that you will not fall into gossiping?
Conversation with the Lord: Almighty God, I praise and thank you for opening my eyes to the truth that you dislike gossiping because it hurts others. Please give me the discipline to refrain from discussing other people’s lives, and just go about minding my own business. Help me fill my surroundings with sincere concern, so that I can live a life that is glorifying to you. Amen.