Choosing to Bless, Not to Gossip

In Proverbs 17:9 I read, “Love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends.” (NLT)

All of us have crazymakers in our lives. They’re the people who make us want to call others, and say, “You won’t believe what they just did or said!”

Crazymakers make you want to spread the word about their craziness, to hear others say, “Wow, they are crazy!” That affirmation from others can make me feel good. But spreading the word is gossip, and it’s unloving.

The Bible says to forgive even your enemies. Proverbs 17:9 says, “Love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends” (NLT).

What is gossip? It’s sharing information with somebody who is not part of the problem or the solution. Gossip, in its essence, is a form of retaliation. I end up talking about someone behind their back rather than going to that person directly.

In the short term, gossip may make me feel better, but it actually lets the crazymaker win. It allows that person to control my conversations and emotions. Suddenly I’m spending my time talking about the crazymaker instead of all the positive things in life. When I choose to gossip, the crazymaker wins.

Gossip is incredibly destructive too. It destroys churches, families, and businesses. It separates close friends. It can even destroy my life.

However, I don’t have to let it. I have the choice not to gossip, and to instead repay the wrong done to me with a blessing.

The Bible says in 1 Peter 3:9, “Do not do wrong to repay a wrong, and do not insult to repay an insult. But repay with a blessing, because you yourselves were called to do this so that you might receive a blessing” (NCV).

I can gossip and miss out on God’s blessing. Or I can choose to have positive conversations and use words that lift others up. In doing so, I will receive God’s blessing on my life.

In summary, love will prosper when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it will separate close friends. All of us have crazymakers in our lives. They’re the people who make us want to call others, and say, “You won’t believe what they just did or said!” Crazymakers make you want to spread the word about their craziness, to hear others say, “Wow, they are crazy!” That affirmation from others can make me feel good. But spreading this is gossip, and it’s unloving. Through this verse, the Bible says to forgive even your enemies. Gossip is sharing information with somebody who is not part of the problem or the solution. And in its essence, is a form of retaliation. In the short term, gossip may make me feel better, but it actually lets the crazymaker win. It allows that person to control my conversations and emotions. Gossip is incredibly destructive as well. It destroys relationships. However, I don’t have to let it. I have the choice not to gossip, and to instead repay the wrong done to me with a blessing. I can gossip and miss out on God’s blessing, or I can choose to have positive conversations and use words that lift others up. If I do so, I will receive God’s blessing on my life.

This proverb indicates that I should be willing to disregard the faults of others. Forgiving faults or covering the offenses of others is necessary to any relationship. It is tempting, especially in an argument, to bring up all the mistakes the other person has ever made. Love, however, keeps its mouth shut, difficult though that may be. I should try to never bring anything into an argument that is unrelated to the topic being discussed. As I grow to be like Christ, I will acquire God's ability to forget the confessed sins of the past.

Father, thank you for wanting me. I need you in my life. Please give me Your strength for today and remind me in little ways that I can always believe in, have faith in and can trust you in everything. This includes being the authority for my life, the source of my self-worth and my hope for the future. You have my best interests in mind. So I ask you to help me to embrace the way you’ve made me; my gifting and passions. I want to serve and fulfill the mission you have in mind for me. In reality, I'm most tempted to gossip just to get an affirmation from others. Next time I’m tempted to gossip, I ask you Father to help remind me to pray for and return a blessing instead.

I ask for wisdom and guidance for my day, my work, my leadership, my interactions with others, my preparation for my new future job, and finishing well in my old one. I ask these things through you Son Jesus’ name, Amen.