Talebearers

Gossip the Destroyer

When we hear the word gossip, some of us immediately recall our high school or middle school years. Or our time spent as a cheerleader, or in a sorority. But gossip is a spirit that many carry with them throughout their entire lifetime. They eat, crave, sleep and feed off the information of others, like a parasite mistaken for cancer, as it destroys the body from within and without.

Gossipers, who are defined as talebearers in the Holy Bible, can ruin much more than a person's character. They destroy relationships, they destroy another person's self-esteem, they destroy everything that...could have been. Gossip destroys what could have been, even the gossiper's soul. And since he sows discord among friends and family and oftentimes conveys lies, it is one of the acts that births the things that God hates. Let's list them:

Proverbs 6:16-19, “These six things does the LORD hate: yes, seven are an abomination unto him: a proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that devises wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaks lies, and he that sows discord among brethren.”

You might not think about it often, but gossip leads to all of the above. Most of the gossip you hear has a lie in the midst of the words. I often wonder how someone can know and believe so much about another person when they don't talk, see or spend quality time with them? And how is it for someone to believe the lies, to be swayed into believing the lies, who does not talk, see or spend quality time with the person either? I have often wondered which one was worse the talebearer or the one who believes the talebearer?

How many of you can keep a secret? Gossipers cannot keep a secret they have to tell somebody. If the first person isn't answering the phone, they'll hang up and they'll call right back. Now, they have other people on the list whom they can call, but the first person is their main Ace. They may not take you information all the way to CNN, but perhaps the local news will suffice. How many of you can keep a secret? Did you know that people who gossip, only gossip to people who gossip. Birds of a feather flock together. People who gossip, gossip to others who gossip.

Proverbs 11:13, “A talebearer reveals secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit conceals the matter.” Which one are you?

Proverbs 18:8, 26:22, “The words of a talebearer are as wounds and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.”

Our belly is the center point of the body. It houses all that is good and evil. A lot can be noticed about a person simply by looking at their belly. You immediately notice pregnancy; a person's diet; and whether or not they exercise. A person also carries stress, drama and gossip within the realms of the belly. However, we can release toxins each time we use the restroom, and toxins are also released when we gossip; however, the toxins from gossip are returned to us through our ears. It's a continuous flow starting with the ears to the belly, from the tongue and back to the ears again, and back into the belly where it usually stays. That is why we must be careful what we bring into our body and what we take out of our body.

Proverbs 20:19, “He that goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flatters with his lips.”

Proverbs 26:20, “Where no wood is, there the fire goes out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceases.”

It is so amazing to me that every family has a talebearer. If you want to spread the news you know exactly who to tell. When you really sit back and ponder for a moment...one person can spread so much information in such a little bit of time it's mind-bottling. Before you can get out of their driveway or off the telephone they are on the phone revealing the information. But when that talebearer is not around, everything is smooth. Have you ever gone to a family gathering and the talebearer was not present? Wasn't it a wonderful time? It certainly was on my end.

What type of person are you? Do people come to you with their problems or to gossip? Do people confide in you or are they always talking about another person to you? Be honest with yourself. What type of people flock to you? Does your spirit entertain meddlers or does it immediately put up a red flag?

Always be mindful of what you share with others. Gossip destroys relationships. My mother gave me some really good advice that I've passed down to my children and it is, “Your best friend as another best friend.” Thus, when my mother put it to me like that it all made sense. I remember that day as if it happened yesterday. I was in the 9^th grade and I was so angry because a friend of mine told my secret to someone else. What kind of secret could you possibly have in the 9^th grade? A crush on a boy of course and now my secret was out, but the person she revealed it to was her friend. Thus, when my mom said, “Your best friend as another best friend,” I couldn't be angry anymore in all fairness. I simply stopped telling her my business. And the next year, we both went to different schools and never saw each other again anyway.

When you're young there is going to be gossip — a lot of it. When you're older and really getting up in age, the key is to look younger, not act younger.