Isaiah 41:13
For I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand, saying to you, “Fear not, I will help you.”
Loose Lips Sink Ships
There will always be people in the world who thrive on spreading malicious rumors. They hang on to every word of juicy gossip and can’t wait to be the one to “dish the dirt” to all who will listen. They love to stir up trouble and thrive on drama. But just because some people are fueled by drama doesn’t mean you have to attend the performance. God’s Holy Word talks about the dangers of listening or spreading rumors in Proverbs 16:28: “A troublemaker plants seeds of strife; gossip separates the best of friends.” Sailors in the Navy have repeated this warning for years: “Loose lips sink ships.” It’s basically a warning not to give secrets to the enemy as it might reveal their location and they could sink their ship. Bottom line is this: loose lips destroy. They destroy reputations, relationships, and hearts by leaving innocent people brokenhearted. It is damaging even for the person spreading the tall tales because it shows their character and labels them as a “gossiper.” God even warns us not to associate with gossipers. Proverbs 20:19 says, “A gossip betrays a confidence; so avoid anyone who talks too much.” One way to stop a gossiper is to simply refuse to listen. Just walk away or humbly say in a kind and non-condescending way, “I’m not comfortable with talking about someone who’s not here. Let’s change the subject.” There are consequences for loose lips as revealed in Proverbs 18:21: “The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences.” If you are going to talk about someone, make sure you are talking to Jesus - and only Jesus!
Text: Proverbs 10:19, Matthew 15:16-19, Ephesians 4:29-32, Proverbs 26:20
© Brenda Walsh Ministries www.brendawalsh.com