The Way With Gossip

"I hear you made a million dollars in oil in Texas," said one man to another. Replied the second, "Well, that report is substantially correct, except it wasn't in Texas, it was Oklahoma; and its wasn't in oil, it was gas; and it wasn't me, it was my brother-in-law; and it wasn't a million, it was a hundred thousand; and he didn't make it, he lost it." While we might chuckle at the above story, it well illustrates the uncontrollable nature of gossip. Once a story has been launched, like a ship without a rudder upon the merciless sea, it is tossed to and fro by the wild imaginations of men who would twist, change, or out right lie about what they have heard. Common sense tells us to be careful in communication. Facts are often ignored by those who would seek to impress others with either good news, or bad. We are admonished by God's word to "lie not one to another," and to always let our speech be seasoned with salt. Gossip is unhealthy communication. Before passing along any information let us ask, (1) Is it true? (2) Is it beneficial to my hearer? and (3) Is it really all that important that I tell this to others? And keep in mind that our Lord told us, "Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete it shall be measured unto you; and more shall be given unto you" (Mark 4:24).

One thing for sure. You can not go wrong spreading the story, "God loves you and sent the Lord Jesus to suffer and die for your sins, paid your debt in full, rose again and was seen by hundreds." It would change the world for good for your kids, your friends and yourself. Let's do it shall we?