Joy Thieves, Part 2: Gossip

Gossip feels good in the moment doesn't it? - to both the speaker and the listener, but after the deed is done and the two part ways, both parties have been robbed of Joy.

 I love how this Proverbs 26:22 defines gossip:

"The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body."

 Delicious morsels... I don't know what the Weight Watcher points for this would be, but anything that earns the title "delicious morsel" is probably super tiny and will take up all my WW points for the entire day! Another word, it packs quite a punch, tastes amazing.... and I will regret it later!

The latest gossip tastes good when we hear it because our sinful heart loves to hear about the tragedy and failings of others in order to puff it's self up and feel better. When we listen to gossip, we are actually feeding our sinful flesh. It reminds me of something my father has told people for years: "What you feed will grow, what you starve will die."  If we listen to gossip, we are nurturing and growing the part of our selves that wants to destroy us - the part of us that wars against Christ in us - and we are starving that part of us that worships and recognizes the power of God in our lives. 

Notice that the second part of that verse says that the gossip goes "down into the inner parts of the body."  Very similar to how hard it is to loose that after-Christmas weight, it is much easier to listen to gossip then it is to purge our minds of it afterward.  When listening to gossip, we may tell ourselves that we are simply being a good friend, that it doesn't matter that we have heard this unsubstantiated story, that at least we have only listened, it's not like we have said anything bad...we just listened, right?  Now, substitute the word listened with the word ate.... see the problem?  We are eating poison...taking those poisoned words deep into our heart, like pushing a thorn deeper into our skin. 

I truly believe that none of us wake up in the morning and think to ourselves "I want to destroy my friendships, tell lies about others, and really mess up someone's life today! I want to be alone and have no joy!" Of course not, that would be insane! But our weakness for telling and listening to the wrong kind of story can lead us down a path that leads to exactly that unless we live intentionally, trying every day to be less like our old sinful self and more like Jesus.

But there is hope for all who have failed in this area - there is a way to get that joy back! Here's what Paul tells us in Galatians 5:16-18:

"My counsel is this: Live freely, animated and motivated by God’s Spirit. Then you won’t feed the compulsions of selfishness. For there is a root of sinful self-interest in us that is at odds with a free spirit, just as the free spirit is incompatible with selfishness."

Simply put: empty your spiritual pantry of all the junk stories and poison words and fill it with the good, healthy food of God's Spirit!  Selfishness cannot live in the same place as the free spirit of God's presence - so if you are filled with God's presence, the other stuff will begin to move out.  

Some practical ways to stock your pantry with good stuff:

• Re-evaluate your closest relationships and avoid friendships with people who are constantly talking negatively about others
• If possible, remove yourself entirely from situations, people, and places that are filled with gossip
• Ask the Lord to forgive you for any gossip you may be guilty of and ask Him to give you the opportunity to make it right
• When you are in a situation and someone begins to talk negatively about someone, change the subject or say "Why don't we go talk to them about it together?"
• Ask the Lord to make you an encourager and look for every opportunity to speak something positive into the lives of those around you
• Get involved in your local church and experience the fulfillment of being a part of a community that serves each other - outreach programs, events, serve as an usher or greeter, spend an hour a week assisting in a children's worship program, ask your leadership if there's any painting or cleaning or office work that needs to be done
• If someone hurts you, go directly to them about it first, don't go to anyone else.  If this doesn't resolve the problem, go to your pastoral leadership for counsel
• Read God's Word consistently and talk to Jesus (prayer) often