Gossip Is A Lot More Serious Than You May Think

144 - Today's Prime Time Devo comes from 1Ti 5:13 And besides they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house, and not only idle but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not. The Holy Spirit speaking through Paul continues to address the problem of these younger widows. Freed from the responsibilities of marriage by the death of their husband, some go chasing after sensual pleasure as mentioned in the previous verses, others spend their time doing nothing but going from house to house as gossiping busybodies! They bubble over with dirt they can spread about others. These habitual gossipers are linked in with those who have departed from the faith! This is serious business, and something we in the church need to take more seriously. We are quick to speak against sexual sins, but not so quick to speak against this sin that is spiritual murder in the form of character assassination! Ro 1:29, throws this sin in with a whole lot of spiritual cancers evidenced in unbelievers: “They were filled with all manner of wickedness, evil, covetousness, malice. Full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malignity, they are gossips, And in Eph 4:29, we read, “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. And here's one more for you in Pr 6:16-19, “These six things the LORD hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: 17 A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood, 18 A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil, 19 A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren.” Get the picture? Gossip is serious business and here in Timothy, grounds for shunning, which in reality is carrying out the business of church discipline. Please! Don't let it get that far! Nip it in the bud! Luther's explanation of the commandment against being a false witness against one's neighbor sums it up beautifully: He says, “We should fear and love God that we may not deceitfully belie, betray, slander, nor defame our neighbor, but defend him, speak well of him, and put the best construction on everything. In the manner of speaking about others, we would do well to follow this rule.