40 Days of Preparation Day 17

Today, Monday March 12, 2012, is the seventeenth day of preparing our hearts, souls and minds for the most high of all Christian holy days, Easter Sunday. Today I need to “put off” gossip and “put on” edifying speech. My mother used to tell me very often that her Ma Maw taught her “if you have nothing good to say, say nothing at all!” I am sure you have received similar advice from people you know and respect.

The problem we have with gossip does not usually occur from our knowledge that gossiping is wrong, but comes instead from our desire to be “in the know” and then to be in a position of choosing whom to illuminate with our newly discovered juicy news.

Concerning gossip the Bible teaches us;

¹³ A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy man keeps a secret. Proverbs 11:13 (NIV)

People whom you can trust will not gossip because those who bring gossip to you will also take gossip concerning you to others. Gossip can also become the means by which conflict can spread even becoming severe enough to separate close friends.

²⁸ A contrary man spreads conflict, and a gossip separates friends. Proverbs 16:28 (HCSB)

Have you ever told someone “I really shouldn’t tell you this, but . . .” and then proceed to gossip. Why is it that we seem incapable of remaining silent, and say nothing at all? We would each be wise to make the following verse our life verse.

¹¹ . . . make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, 1 Thessalonians 4:11 (NIV)

Gossip springs from our ambition to be important rather than to lead a quiet life or mind our own business. Some people deal in gossip because they are noisy and want to know, but once they know then they share what they know with others.  The following proverb explains this human inclination;

⁸ A gossip’s words are like choice food that goes down to one’s innermost being. Proverbs 18:8 (HCSB)

Another proverb gives us even greater detail concerning gossip.

²⁰ Without wood, fire goes out; without a gossip, conflict dies down. ²¹ As charcoal for embers and wood for fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife. ²² A gossip’s words are like choice food that goes down to one’s innermost being. Proverbs 26:20–22 (HCSB)

I need to “put off” gossip and “put on”edifying speech. The primary reason the Scripture gives us to be concerned about and careful of our speech is given by Jesus.

³⁵ The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. ³⁶ I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, ³⁷ for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” Matthew 12:35–37 (ESV)

The words we speak come from our hearts. Therefore, they reveal much more than our opinion they reveal our character. Because of this each of us will give an account of our careless words before the judgment seat. This verse provides a reason to seriously consider remaining silent for the rest of our lives.

Instead of being careless in our speech Paul gives the Ephesians a principle which we will all find helpful should we choose to apply it to our speech.

²⁹ Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. Ephesians 4: 29

Rather than repeating gossip our speech should be about that which will encourage others so that anyone who listens to us will benefit from the experience. I continue to be amazed by the wisdom contained in the phrase my father taught me; “put your mind in gear before you put your mouth in motion.” If each of us will follow this advice we would never speak  careless words and neither would we traffic in gossip, but would instead speak words of edification. Join me today in asking God for help in “putting off” gossip and “putting on” edifying speech.