Intro

I’ve written several times in the past about the use of anger, fear, and outrage by our media as a vehicle for boosting advertising sales, and also about the effects this constant negativity can have on our mindset.  Today’s post focuses on one particular by-product of over-exposure to negativity, a critical, scornful spirit as expressed through gossip, slander, or just general bad-mouthing.  I’ve called the post “The Proverbial Gossip” because Solomon, the wisest man to have ever lived, had quite a bit to say about tongue-wagging in the book of Proverbs.

Proverbs 11:9

With their mouths the godless destroy their neighbors, but through knowledge the righteous escape.

Proverbs 16:28

A perverse person stirs up conflict, and a gossip separates close friends.

Proverbs 17:9

Whoever would foster love covers over an offense, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.

Proverbs 18:6-7, 21

The lips of fools bring them strife, and their mouths invite a beating.  The mouths of fools are their undoing, and their lips are a snare to their very lives.  The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

There are yet more verses, but I think the last passage is a good one to walk away with.  Not only are we warned that we are “cruisin’ for a bruisin’” if we cannot guard our tongues, but also, we are warned that our undoing will come from that very thing- we will eat the fruit of idle talk.

As Christians our ultimate goal should be to glorify Christ by producing spiritual fruits.  James 3:11 tells us that the same fountain cannot produce both bitter and sweet, while Philippians 4:8 tells us to focus on what is pure, good, and lovely.  If we focus on Godly things, we will have the necessary spirit to produce sweet fruits, but if we expose ourselves to a stream of derision and slander, our sweet will turn to bitter.

I look forward to hearing your thoughts, please share.

Be blessed.

K