The Flames of Gossip

Proverbs 26:22
The words of a whisperer are like dainty morsels, and they go down into the innermost parts of the body.

It severs our being like the surgeon’s knife; cutting through our flesh and slowly navigating it’s blade into our deepest parts, the words of a gossip make their path to our heart in a damaging and oftentimes irreversible manner. A whisper against you is like poison in your veins, an arrow in the back, and the smallest pieces of food consumed and distributed to the deepest parts of your body.

The gentle, whispering wind of a gossip can be felt within any time, place or circumstance. Seldom unaware and always justifiable, we spread hurtful words like a wildfire through our network of friends and companions. As with most rumors, that which began as a fire of comfort for one or two quickly outgrows its boundary and becomes an all-consuming wall of flames, devouring everyone in its path.

Proverbs 26:20 reminds us that fire can only exist with the presence of flammable materials. In the same manner, a vicious rumor can only exist where it finds those who will feed it. “For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, contention quiets down.” Verse 21 says, “Like charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, so is a contentious man to kindle strife.”

It’s easy to play the victim and acknowledge the pain of gossip when you are on the receiving end. I challenge you to evaluate your own habits though. I wonder if you are more often found under the knife of gossip or firmly grasping its painful handle. As children of God we are commanded to preserve unity and peace with all people (Ephesians 4:3). We are called to be ambassadors of the Lord, sharing and representing the goodness of Him who sent us to everyone we meet. When we participate in spreading whispers and rumors, our witness is hindered along with the message of Christ.

As painful as the knife that enters your own body and as deep reaching as the morsel of a whisper travels into your innermost being, I pray that you would never forget the hurtful damage of a whisper done to those around you. Jesus commands us to do to others only what we would like done to us. He teaches us in Matthew 23:39 to love our neighbors as ourselves. How often we forget our Master’s words when it comes to whispering rumors. The next time flames of gossip come in your direction, I pray that you would not be just another log in the fire, but instead, a quenching shot of water to a potentially devastating action.

If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless (James 1:26).