Does Anyone Like A Gossip?

“He who covers a transgression seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates friends.”
Proverbs 17:9 (NKJV)

We all like to be ‘in the know’. To be the one who has the scoop on things, especially in the area of personal concerns of other people. It is interesting to observe how we are attracted to people who seem to know everyone else’s business. We call these people gossips.

Many years ago, in the early episodes of ‘Coronation Street’, Ena Sharples, brilliantly played by Violet Carson, was the ‘street’ gossip. Much of the intrigue that held audiences spellbound was the intrigue that flowed from the lips of this character as she peddled her wares of other peoples business, often with a twist to the facts that she herself provided. Weaving her webs of intrigue striving to elevate herself by tearing down others.

It’s a strange phenomenon that although she was the centre of attention she was also the one that everyone loved to hate. She was seen for what she really was, a troublemaker.

Insider information is very tantalising; it gives a sense of power, real or imagined. It is all too easy to use this power to draw attention to the self at the expense of the victim. Clearly this is destructive, as the proverb says, separating the best of friends.

To seek love we must cover, keep hidden, information that may come to us which is of a sensitive nature. Togetherness is a wonderful thing and it is worth protecting. To spread gossip, which is usually of a negative nature, is to risk this togetherness and to ruin relationships causing no end of trouble.

Let’s heed the wisdom of the proverb and cover the tittle-tattle that may come our way, and so promote peace and harmony.

Prayer
Our Father in heaven, as I make my way through this day let me not spread the things I may hear that would damage others. Rather let me express your love by covering these things and reflecting your desire that we live together in peace and harmony.
Amen

Study by David Stirk