Proverbs 18:8

August 17

Proverbs 18:8 (NIV)

The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to a man’s inmost parts.

Do you think that gossip is a guilty pleasure?  For most, it is.  People can’t help themselves when they hear the latest mishap of a famous person.  They read about it, and then they talk about it around the water cooler at work.  For some reason, folks think that it’s a good thing to express an opinion about someone you don’t know.  Sometimes, we think it’s cool to offer our two cents about individuals that we do know.  It’s interesting, however, that when it becomes about us, we get all shocked and shaken, like no one would ever dare talk about our shortcomings or gaffes.  When we don’t guard our ears or our mouths to not participate, we are as guilty as the one who is.  The Bible calls it murder.  No, you might not be shooting someone with a 9 millimeter gun, but you might as well be doing it, because it’s called “character assassination”, even if it’s done in jest.  Lord, help us to be more sensitive to what bothers You, and not desensitize ourselves to other’s feelings.  Amen.