Have you ever over heard two people talking about you, when they thought you were out of ears reach? It hurts doesn't it? Probably, everyone has experienced this at some point in their life. I think the best thing a person can do when this happens is to confront the gossiper at the time it's happening. This will quickly stop rumors and back biting in its tracks. Hopefully, both the gossiper and the naive listener will realize how crude they are being.
"A perverse man stirs up dissension, and a gossip separates close friends." Proverbs 16:28 (NASB)
How sad that this even needs to be addressed to brothers and sisters in Christ. We should know better and act better. Doesn't every believer have enough trouble, without added conflict from a brother or sister in Christ?
"He who brings trouble on his family will inherit only wind, and a fool will be servant to the wise." Proverbs 11:29 (NASB)
I don't think it's talking about a bad case of gas here, but that would be very funny if the gossiping lips got a bad case of the noisy tooty fruitys in the midst of their mouthy ways. Wouldn't it be the berries if along with those windy toots, came a rank odor? Maybe at that point those anxious to listen to gossip could get a good whiff of what they're listening to besides.
The next time you're tempted to gossip, or to listen to it, may God bless you with a gassy belly to help you remember how rude and counter productive you are being.
Finally, remember what 1st Corinthians chapter 13 says. "If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal." 1st Corinthians 13:1 (NASB) READ ON
