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“O Lord, set a guard at my mouth” (Psalm 141:3, GWT).
Read this carefully: “I maim without killing. I break hearts and ruin lives. I am cunning and malicious, and I gather strength with age. The more I’m quoted, the more I’m believed. I flourish at every level of society.
My victims are helpless; they can’t protect themselves against me… To track me down is impossible. The harder you try, the more elusive I become.
I’m nobody’s friend. Once I tarnish a reputation, it’s never the same. I topple governments, wreck marriages and make innocent people cry. Who am I? My name is gossip!’
Solomon said, “Rumours are dainty morsels that sink deep into one’s heart’ (Proverbs 18:8 NLT).
When it comes to the sin of gossip, note carefully what Jesus said: “Every idle word…men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgement. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned” (Matthew 12:36-37, NKJV).
One day we will stand before God to be evaluated and rewarded.
Revelation 20:12 says, “And the books were opened.” The word ‘books’ indicates there will be several. So might there be a ‘book of words’?
If you believe there could be, you won’t break someone’s heart by spreading their secrets, betraying their confidence, ruining their good name, and undermining their self-esteem with ridicule and innuendo. You simply won’t do it!
Pray as David did, ‘Control…what I say, O Lord, and guard my lips’ (Psalm 141:3 NLT).
By Alfred Nyamekye
