Emotional Healing

Gossip… among the people!?

3 min read, approximately

“Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman he had married, for he had married a Cushite woman. And they said: Has the Lord spoken only through Moses? Has he not also spoken through us? And the Lord heard it.” (Numbers 12:1-2)

The Royal Spanish Academy defines murmuring as: “Speaking under one’s breath, expressing a complaint or displeasure about something,” or “Speaking to the detriment of someone who is absent, criticizing their actions.” Day after day, we see families, longstanding friendships, children, couples, and ministries destroyed by someone who has left the door open and decided to let the devil into their life… And the devil uses that person to grumble and gossip, thereby creating strife. Today we will walk through the Word to identify whether we belong to this harmful group: \1. Instead of praying for our brothers and sisters, do we prefer to talk about them?

“The Lord hates six things, and seven are detestable to him: proud eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that hurry to run toward evil, a false witness who speaks lies, and someone who sows discord among brothers.” (Proverbs 6:16-19)

\2. Are we unable to control our mouths when we speak?

“Whoever guards their mouth and tongue guards their soul against troubles.” (Proverbs 21:23)

\3. Is there a gossip nearby? If so, are we like that person?

“Never answer a fool according to his foolishness, lest you become like him yourself. Answer a fool as his foolishness deserves, lest he consider himself wise in his own opinion.” (Proverbs 26:4-5)

“The slanderer will not be established in the land; evil will hunt down the unjust man to bring him down.” (Psalms 140:11)

\4. Have we noticed that we are becoming isolated because we talk about the people around us?

“The wicked man digs for evil, and on his lips there is something like a flame of fire. The wicked man stirs up strife, and a gossip separates the closest friends.” (Proverbs 16:27-28)

“Without wood the fire goes out, and where there is no gossip, strife ceases. As charcoal feeds embers and wood feeds fire, so a quarrelsome man kindles strife. A gossip’s words are like tasty morsels that reach deep inside. Flattering lips and an evil heart are like silver dross spread over earthenware. Someone who hates conceals it with his lips, but within he devises deceit. When he speaks kindly, do not believe him, for there are seven abominations in his heart. Though his hatred is concealed by pretense, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly. Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and whoever rolls a stone will have it roll back on him. A false tongue torments those it has hurt, and a flattering mouth causes people to stumble.” (Proverbs 26:20-28)

\5. Finally, are we opponents?

“For this reason, if I come, I will bring to mind what he is doing, babbling malicious words against us; and not content with these things, he refuses to receive the brothers, forbids those who want to welcome them, and expels them from the church.” (3 John 1:10)

Please, starting today, let us put (Philippians 2:14-15) into practice so that we stop gossiping, because of (James 4:11-12). Please, may (1 John 2:19) not be said of us. What will we do?

May God continue to bless you
and may you continue to have an excellent day in Christ Jesus!
I invite you to stop by the Songbook