I HAD TO SHARE THIS WITH MY PEOPLE! Thanks Amber and it will be going on my blog!!!
WHETHER U BELIEVE IN GOD OR NOT THIS MESSAGE REMAINS TRUE & APPLIES TO EVERYONE!
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THE DANGERS OF GOSSIP:
We are ALL guilty of having "LOOSE LIPS"... Gossip is a SERIOUS MATTER so I was compelled to write about this...
Gossip. Like bullets fired from a gun, words cannot be taken back.
1. Intent. Gossipers often have the goal of building themselves up by making others look bad and exalting themselves as some kind of repositories of knowledge or in some cases a victim so others will feel sorry for them.
2. The type of information shared. Gossipers speak of the faults and failings of others, or reveal potentially embarrassing or shameful details regarding the lives of others without their knowledge or approval. Even if they mean no harm, it is still gossip.
Everyone likes a good story, right?
Well, not necessarily. What about the person the story is about?
Does that person like the story? Probably not. Spreading rumors only hurts others and destroys our credibility.
Who is going to trust us with anything when they think we’ll tell everyone else?
Gossip is also a way we judge others, which really isn’t our job. God is in charge of judging people, not us.
Gossip really only ends up creating greed, hate, envy, murder.
Gossip is also a sign that we are not really active in our faith and in our lives. If you think about it, the busier we are, the less time we have to gossip.
We no longer have the time to get wrapped up in someone else’s life.
Gossip is bred out of boredom. It may start as a simple conversation about people, and then escalates quickly.
The Bible clearly tells us to do more than discuss other people’s lives.
As I said we are ALL guilty of this whether you were the "Fire Starter" or you were the "FUEL" that was added to the fire..
The thing about gossip is that it is 1 sided and when you are only hearing 1 side you can't possibly pass or make a sound judgment because you don't know the WHOLE TRUTH. You are only going off of what that person who is running their mouth is telling you.
Because 1 thing is for sure in life.. If they gossip to you and with you.. TRUST & BELIEVE that they will gossip ABOUT YOU in a New York Minute! This includes EVERYONE in your 360 (Circle).
I have experienced this on many occassions especially dealing with co-workers and "friends/associates". They tell you something negative about someone on the job or in your circle of friends whether it is pertaining to you or not and next thing you know they are buddy buddy with the person they just talked to you about. Sound Familiar?
I am very leery of people who barely know me but are quick to tell me someone elses business that I don't even know but by the end of the conversation I know EVERYTHING about that person except for their Social Security Number! (I also handle people accordingly when I see certain characteristics that are RED FLAGS.) Then later I am mad at myself for even entertaining the mess I listened to. People like DRAMA and definitely like to start it and they like to watch the BLAZE that they created and as long as they don't get burnt then it is alright with them. Sometimes people will tell you what someone said about you but they are really speaking on how they REALLY feel about you. BE CAREFUL!
HOW TO AVOID GOSSIP:
First, if you catch yourself falling into gossip – STOP! If you don’t passon the gossip there is nowhere for it to go. This includes gossip magazines and television. While it may not seem as “sinful” to read those magazines, you are contributing to gossip. Stop them dead in their tracks and let them know straight up that you will NOT entertain that foolishness. From now on I will simply change the subject or better yet ask them, "Does this person know how you feel about them?" and if they say NO then I will simply say, "Well you telling me all of this is not helping anyone maybe the best thing for you to do is go to THE SOURCE of the MATTER."
I guarantee they will not come to you with that mess again or any mess for that matter if you keep SHUTTING THEM DOWN! :o)
BUT REMEMBER THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GOSSIPPING AND SHARING INFORMATION TO GET ADVICE AND/OR HELP FOR THAT PERSON IN NEED.
Also, when you are faced with a statement that may or may not be gossip, check out the facts.
For instance, if you hear someone has an eating disorder, go to the person. If you don’t feel comfortable talking to the person yourself, and the rumor is something serious, you may want to go to someone you trust and someone who can help them.
Getting someone to help in a serious situation is not gossip as long as the information stays with you and the person you go to for help.
If you want to avoid gossip, focus on creating helpful and encouraging statements. Let the gossip and end with you and remember the Golden Rule – if you don’t want people to gossip about you, then don’t participate in gossip.
Proverbs 26:20 – “Without wood a fire goes out; without gossip a quarrel dies down.” (NIV)
Deuteronomy 13:14 – “Then you must inquire, probe and investigate it thoroughly.” (NIV)
Matthew 7:12 – “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” (NIV)
Ephesians 4:29 – “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”(NIV)
I don't know who ever made the ridiculous statement that “sticks and stones may hurt my bones, but words will never hurt me”; but words can be very painful. The most painful wounds in life are those inflicted by a careless or cruel person's words. It hurts bad when someone whom we look up to hurts us; but it hurts even worse when we unintentionally hurt someone who looks up to us. Gossip is so subtle, and if you're not careful it can spiral out of control!
It's been said: “Believe none of what you hear, and only half of what you see." I like that. The facts are nearly always distorted as they pass from one ear to another. What began as a hold of the hand usually ends up turning into adultery by the time it reaches enough ears.
People love to talk, gossip, slander, and tear down. It's in our nature to destroy ourselves. That's the human race. The more we hear about peace, the more war happens and innocent people are murdered. There will never be lasting genuine peace until Jesus Christ reigns from Jerusalem. Until then, people will continue to hurt people, as they do best.
God Gave You Teeth to Cage That Evil Tongue
Keep your cage closed. Don't let the wild animal out! Keep your tongue secured within those pearly white teeth (i.e., the bars of a cage). God gave us a mouth to encage that dangerous tongue! Literally, you ought to view your mouth as cage for our evil tongue.
The Bible teaches in James 3:7-8 that the tongue CANNOT BE TAMED. It is impossible. It's in our human nature to talk trash. Everyone is guilty of saying things they shouldn't say.
So what's the answer? Keep your mouth shut! It works. If you DO NOT have nothing nice to say then do NOT say ANYTHING AT ALL!
The key is to limit our words, and do our best with the Lord's help to be careful what we say. Wars have been started and ended by mere words. Words are the most powerful force in the world. This is evidenced by the Words of God, which is the highest authority in the universe (Psalm 138:2; John 1:1-3,14).
Keep your mouth shut! If you don't talk, then you can't gossip, can't spread gossip, and can't create gossip.
Most gossip is partially true, which is the most dangerous form of gossip. What usually happens is that people spread misinformation, not having all the facts, and someone's life and reputation are injured or destroyed.
Proverbs 11:13 – “A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy man keeps a secret.” (NIV)
Romans 1:29 – “They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips.” (NIV)
1 Timothy 5:13 – “Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying things they ought not to.” (NIV)
Matthew 7:1 – “Do not judge, or you too will be judged.” (NIV)
Proverbs 18:8 – “The words of gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to a man’s inmost parts.” (NIV)
THINGS TO REMEMBER:
1. Don't worry what peoplw think they don't do it very often. Worry about what God thinks. People have NO heaven or hell to put you in!
2. No matter how carefully you choose your words, they'll end up being twisted by others... *Just agree to disagree IN LOVE*
3. Forget what hurt you in the PAST.. But NEVER FORGET what it TAUGHT you!
4. You can't control what peoplw say, think, or do. Peoplw have the right to think & say whatever they want. But u have the right not to take it to heart♥ or react to it.
3. David said: "Do Not Fret!".. Peoplw will talk about you whether you do bad or good. Pray for them & do NOT feed into their negativity!
4. "If someone does you wrong it is OKAY to confront them IN LOVE.. Let me REPEAT confront them IN LOVE NOT ANGER."
5. "Angry Words Are True Thoughts"... Be careful what you say because you canNOT take back the marks you leave when caught up in the moment!
6. Surround yourself with others who inspire you to become a better person. Not people who try to stop you or get in the way when your trying to become one.
MOST IMPORTANTLY:
7. When people question your intentions for your life... remind them you're the one living it!
This was written by: Amber Montgomery
