by Janet Wahlquist
"LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill? He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart. He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour." (Ps. 15:1-3)
This month we will be looking at Gossip. I want to keep this weakness constantly in mind as I speak to others, because I have fallen into trouble so easily. Lest we treat it too lightly, the scripture states that
"Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof." (Pr. 18:21)
"A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter." (Pr. 11:13)
"Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself; and discover not a secret to another: Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thine infamy turn not away." (Pr. 25:9,10)
"Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth. As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife. The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly." (Pr. 26:20-22)
"The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness." (Pr. 15:2)
"In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise." (Pr.10:19)
"He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction." (Pr. 13:3)
"He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends." (Pr. 17:29)
"Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! …Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be." (James 3:5 & 10)
"There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health." (Pr. 12:18)
"Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones." (Pr. 16:24)
Scott Brown gives a definition of gossip as "speaking negatively about another person when they are not present and you have not used due process." (Matt 18) He says that "a gossip is a person who habitually reveals personal or intimate facts." He also warns that gossip can be disguised as "seeking counsel, a prayer request, bearing one another's burdens, sharing a concern, godly sorrow, or speaking the truth." How easy to slip and not honor others with our speech. May we all pray with the Pslamist in Ps 141:3, "Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips."
