When
Shayla McKnight applied for a job for an online printing company, she was
surprised to learn that they had a zero-tolerance policy for gossip. The
employees are encouraged to confront one another, instead of gossip about their
fellow employees. If employees are caught gossiping, they are reprimanded, and
if they continue, they are fired.
Long
before this kind of policy was ever implemented by a company, God spoke of His
own zero-tolerance policy for gossip and slander among His people (Lev. 19:16). Idle
talk that foolishly or maliciously spreads rumors or facts about another person
was forbidden.
Solomon
said that speaking badly of others could have disastrous effects. It betrays
confidence (Prov. 11:13),
separates close friends (16:28; 17:9), shames and saddles you with a bad
reputation (25:9-10), and perpetually fuels the embers of a quarrel (26:20-22).
People rarely can undo the damage their untrue words have done to a neighbor.
Let’s ask
the Lord to help us not to engage in harmful talk about others. He wants us to
set a guard over our mouths so that we’ll instead speak all the good we know
about everybody.
