Gossip Crop

Read Proverbs 16

A troublemaker plants seeds of strife; gossip separates the best of friends.

Proverbs 16:28

Gossip is to a friendship what weeds are to a garden. As weeds choke a garden, so gossip saps the strength and chokes the growth of relationships. The Bible highlights dozens of friendships and relationships built on qualities like trust, affection, mutual purpose, and mission. Such words characterize the intense bond between biblical characters like David and Jonathan and Paul and Silas.

When we gossip with close friends, a subtle change affects our friendship. Our dearest friends may become haunted by the persistent thought that maybe they would find their own name as our hot topic in another social circle. Who’s to say we wouldn’t slice and dice them, too, if the opportunity arose? We may never betray a best friend by gossip, but human nature allows the suspicion to remain. By publicly dismantling another person’s dignity, even within the intimacy of a close circle of friends, we have demonstrated the destruction we are capable of.

A WORD FOR TODAY

Gossip and friendship don’t mix.

Today, Lord, help me deal with gossip in a godly way. Help me spread only good news instead.