THE GOSSIPING TONGUE

The Gossiping Tongue

The words of a gossip are like choice morsels;

they go down to a man’s inmost parts.

Proverbs 18:8




It seemed that every woman at the beauty shop

had an opinion about why Oprah Winfrey had not

married her longtime beau, Stedman Graham.

Refusing to join the discussion, I buried my head in

my book and decided it was a good time to catch up

on my reading. Because I have been the subject of a

few “newsy” conversations, I have an aversion to such

nonproductive exchanges. I sat there thinking,

What’s it to you? Why do you care?

Do you sometimes engage in idle and often mali-

cious talk about the personal affairs of another?

Gossip can be such a delectable “choice morsel” that

many find it impossible to resist. Now, I’m certain

everyone reading this book has been guilty of par-

taking of this popular pastime—either as a bearer


or a hearer at one time or another. Oh, the down-

side of such behavior!

Did you know that gossiping can lower your sense

of self-worth? How? When you gossip, you tend to

realize you are not walking in integrity. We feel best

about ourselves when we do things that are pleasing

to God; after all, He created us for His pleasure.

What’s the solution? How do you stop gossiping?

Catch yourself before you indulge! Ask yourself why

you are being a bearer of such news. Is this the only

way you know how to establish camaraderie with

others? Do you need to be the center of attention?

Does it make you feel superior to know something

negative about somebody that the hearer doesn’t

know? Are you envious of your subject’s accom-

plishments? Why are you willing to use the temple

of God as a “trash receptacle” by being a receiver of

gossip? What do you plan to do with the informa-

tion a gossip shares with you? Are you bored with

your life and need more meaningful activities? It has

been my observation that those who are ardently

pursuing their own goals and aspirations are less

likely to waste time discussing the affairs of another.

If you are serious about eliminating gossip from

your life, you must start an all-out campaign

against it. Let everyone know you will not be a bearer a hearer of “choice morsels” about anyone. Declare your environment, whether at work, at home, or at play, to be a “gossip-free zone.” Make every effort to avoid gossipmongers. Proverbs 20:19 warns,“A gossip tells secrets, so don’t hang around with someone who talks too much”.

When people come into my office and start to

gossip or to engage in any other ungodly talk, I point

to my tongue and exclaim,“tongue fast!”They imme-

diately know I have no plans to indulge their con-

versation. Refusing to engage in gossip may result in

fewer visitors and phone calls; however, your impact

will be far-reaching. I have received emails, calls, and

letters from people across the United States testifying

about the impact that the tongue fast is having on

their lives.

When your tongue is used as an instrument of

righteousness, your stock will rise in heaven. You will

be able to humbly declare, with complete dependence on the Father, “Let the words of my mouth, and the

meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight,

O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer” (Psalm. 19:14).




Today’s Affirmation:

I am not a busybody in other people’s

matters. Therefore, I do not yield my



tongue as an instrument of gossip.