Daily Devotional

The Sneaky Sin of Gossip

By Lisa Crum
This week's topic: A Love For God's People

I've joked for years that if no one sees you eat that piece of candy, the calories don't count! Well, many pounds later, I'd have to say my theory doesn’t work! Proverbs 18:8 says, "The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to the inmost parts." So, if you're thinking that the calories of that juicy little tidbit someone slipped you today don't count, step up on the scales, my friend.

Gossip has no place in the life of a believer, and especially if you are in leadership or aspire to be! We pray for power as a church and as an individual, but often find ourselves powerless, because of the little things we allow in our lives. If you feel like you're not getting prayers through, or are discouraged in your Christian walk, do a heart check. If gossip is an area you're weak in (and it requires some real self-honesty here), then get it out of your life now...immediately...this minute!

Gossip is like a tiny tear in the fabric of the Body of Christ, which gets bigger every time someone begins with the line, "Don't tell anybody I told you this, BUT..." Well, guess what? You've got the right to nip it in the bud before the next line comes out by saying, "Stop! Don't wanna hear it!" Gossip's not juicy, friends; it's just plain sin. You have no idea how damaging it is to your credibility, your integrity, and your trustworthiness to have it said of you, "You won't believe what ______(your name) just told me!" Could you even have family members who now won't go to church, because they’ve heard you tell tales about the pastor and church members right at your Sunday dinner table? How many people now have a cynical, bitter attitude toward faith in Jesus Christ because they’ve seen your example, and feel it's all a farce?

Gossip's one of those things no one wants to admit, but that anyone can get caught up in if we allow it. It starts by coming in through our ears and then it gets in our hearts…and then, from the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks! I don't want an abundance of junk in my heart, piling up, building up pressure like Old Faithful, ready to spew out of my mouth. Have I repeated things that hurt others before? To my great shame, yes I have.

Gossip's become an accepted and even favored communication in today's society. Our TV shows are infested with it. The magazine racks at the checkout are full of garbage, today's latest lie about this one or that one. If we learn to love gossip about perfect strangers, would we hesitate to make it a part of our life involving the people that we know? Inquiring minds want to know, so they say (smile)...well, I don't want to know! When I see people on the street, or at a family get-together, or worshiping with me in church, I don't want the lowdown on their personal lives. I don't feel privileged if I have the "dirt" on you...or on anyone else!

If nothing else scares you about the danger of talebearing, read Romans 1. The Apostle Paul names off a long list of detestable sins, and GOSSIP is among them. Then he concludes by saying that those who do these things are worthy of death! What a harsh sentence; but what a damaging thing we do when we verbally assassinate our fellow man. Kind of reminds us how important it is to our Father that we treat one another well, doesn't it? Yeah, it's that important.

Scripture of the Day: "People who think they are religious but say things they should not say are just fooling themselves. Their "religion" is worth nothing." - James 1:26 (NCV)

Lisa Crum is an inspirational freelance writer and Christian songwriter. She serves as administrative/pastoral assistant at Regional Church of God in Delbarton, WV. Lisa also ministers weekly as part of the praise team and worship band. For more from Lisa, visit her at http://www.facebook.com/lisa.crum.…

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