By Mark D. Stucky
In
Matthew 12:36-37, Jesus said, "I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words will you be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned."
Let us consider extenuating circumstances. Have we got the whole picture? In one episode of the television series "MASH," Charles Winchester received a box of expensive candy from home. The people in the camp criticized him for not sharing any of it with them. Later Klinger discovered that Winchester secretly gave the candy to a local Korean orphanage. An old family Christmas tradition kept Winchester from telling anyone about his good deed. We may never know all the facts of the story. Remember the Sioux Indians' prayer: "Great Spirit, help me to never judge another until I have walked two weeks in his moccasins."
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Let us consider our motives. Before we cast the first verbal stone, we must look deep into our own deceitful hearts and ask ourselves: "Why do I want to tell this rumor? Do I want to help lift those people out of trouble, or push them deeper into the mud?"
Let us avoid gossip. Ann Landers wrote: "Superior people talk about ideas; mediocre people talk about other people." T.N. Tiemeyer said, "When tempted to gossip, breathe through your nose." When in a gossiping group, change the topic or leave.
Let us replace gossip with positive thoughts and words. Jesus said in
Matthew 12:34, "Out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks." We need to fill our hearts, minds, and mouths with good things instead of bad. Instead of thinking about gossip, as
Philippians 4:8 admonishes, let us think about things which are true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, gracious, excellent, and worthy of praise.
