Grapevine Gourmet?

Read Proverbs 18

Rumors are dainty morsels that sink deep into one’s heart.

Proverbs 18:8

When it comes to food, what’s your weakness? What scrumptious dish do you find almost impossible to resist? What delicious dessert causes you to salivate?

In the proverb for today, gossip is pictured as a mouthwatering morsel. It sure is a fitting image. Rumors tempt us like a sizzling entrée. Like addictive snack food, we can’t seem to get enough. We crave more juicy details.

Dieters like to say, “A moment on the lips, forever on the hips.” What seems so good in the short term ends up causing long-term pain. According to our verse, a similar phenomenon takes place with gossip. Once we indulge, we find rumors hard to forget. They sink deep into our hearts.

The best course of action? Any dieter can tell you: Don’t give in to the temptation! If you never take that first bite, you won’t have to worry about the second or the third.

A WORD FOR TODAY

Develop a rumor allergy.

Today, Lord, I want to develop an aversion to gossip. When rumors are being spread, help me to turn a deaf ear and not participate.