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.
Destroy gossip by ignoring it. (RBC)
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