People that gossip with you are most likely the people that will gossip about you. Never feel comfortable with someone that loves to gossip. If you are one of them yourself, you need to turn to God so He can fix you. One thing I have noticed, is that people that love to gossip cannot keep long-term relationships. Plus, they consistently ruin good friendships. Every year they fall out with someone. Every year they are close to a different person. I know that this is a fact, because the bible even confirms this in Proverbs 16:28 by stating that a whisperer separates the best of friends.
Babygirl, you cannot be a Spirit-filled Christian lady and at the same time also a gossiper. It’s an ERROR. It is very unfortunate that in some of our churches today gossip is ruining the gathering of the saints. People always have something to say about one another. It is either about the way someone dressed, the way someone sings, the way someone looked at another person or something that was said by the preacher.
We often forget that Jesus is coming back for a church without spot or wrinkle. The church is not the building, but the church is you and I. How prepared are you for the coming of Christ? My fellow Christian sisters, please don’t let gossip destroy the church. Don’t let gossip cause you to miss your destiny. Don’t let it distract you from your purpose.
Years back, I used to have a friend that was very close to me. This girl knew everything about everybody. Well, not everything, but she always had something to say about somebody. It just wasn’t right. First, I went along with it. Gossip can seem very exciting and you want to hear more, so you easily gossip along, consciously or unconciously. Gossip has become normal in today’s society, but you will hate gossip when you find out that the person you confide in is also spreading the things you told her in confidence. I have experienced this so many times.
After a while I noticed that the only thing this particular friend talks about is other people, so I got fed up and tried to distance myself. I thank God that we didn’t have a fight, but we just went our separate ways. We both noticed that there was nothing to talk about, because every time she came up with a story I didn’t really respond. The reason why gossipers love to do what they do, is because they manage to entertain their listeners. If you are someone that manages not to listen to gossip or you simply don’t show interest, you’re not only helping yourself, but you are also helping the one trying to gossip. If nobody is willing to listen to the things you have to say, you will not share it. It is as simple as that.
So, how to deal with gossip?
1. Learn to overlook things; it is not always necessary to give a reply.
2. Surround yourself with people that are allergic to gossip. Those people are the ones that are not interested in rumours, and even if they hear it they don’t pass it on.
3. If you find yourself gossiping all the time, you need to acknowledge this and tell God to fix you. “Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin.” (Psalms 51:2, NKJV)
4. Pray for strength. Sometimes the things you hear about yourself can be so painful. It feels like a gut punch. When you notice it’s becoming a burden, please feel free to approach that brother or sister and do your uttermost best to make peace. “Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother.” (Matthew 18:15, NKJV)
5. Don’t treat others the way you don’t want to be treated. Before you come up with a rumour or entertain one, ask yourself if you would be happy if you heard the same thing about yourself. “And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:39, NKJV)
The world would be a better place if we treated one another how we want to be treated. If you want to see that change it starts with you!
God bless,
Justine Asante
The Purpose Wife 