When you indulge in gossip, even in casual conversations with friends, you sow seeds of distrust and resentment. This behavior can lead others to avoid the person being discussed, creating rifts and damaging relationships. More seriously, it puts you at odds with God. When the individual you’ve slandered seeks to stand firm in their faith at church, they may find themselves ostracized, all because of your careless words. For every soul who suffers due to your gossip, you risk losing rewards in Heaven. Remember, as harshly as you judge others, so too will you be judged by your own words (Matthew 7:1-2).
Mark Twain, the esteemed author, once observed that it takes two people to wound your heart: an enemy to criticize you and a friend to relay that criticism. Never share anything with a friend that could cause them pain; they don’t need to carry the burden of hurtful words spoken about them. Some people are so cruel that, even after you’ve asked them to refrain from sharing gossip, they persist, seeking to inflict harm. Gossip is not limited to one gender; both men and women can be equally guilty. God disapproves of the malicious media that thrive on spreading falsehoods and scandals, and I find more respect for a street hustler than for those who profit from damaging others’ reputations.
There's a saying that goes, “A lie can travel halfway across the country before truth has a chance to put its boots on.”
“It takes your enemy and your friend, working together, to hurt you to the heart; the one to slander you and the other to get the news to you.” ---Mark Twain
“Protect your good image from the eyes of negative observers who may scrutinize your virtues with malice. If the words of an abusive man make you angry, leave that toxic space; you’ll find that silence often disarms the loudest critics.” - Michael Bassey Johnson
“The folly of gossips is that they tremble when they see your face; a mere word from you can leave them as stunned as a criminal caught off guard.” - Michael Bassey Johnson
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