The practice of gossip is extremely destructive to our growth in living with God in recovery. What is gossip? It is anything we would say behind a person's back that we would not say if they were present in the conversation.
A troublemaker plants seeds of strife; gossip separates the best of friends. (Proverbs 16:28 NLT)
Gossip isolates and discourages people who are being talked about. When we gossip about others it hinders us from examining our own life as we should. Instead of taking inventory of our own lives, we tend to focus more on the lives of others. We all say we dislike gossip yet so often when we are offered an opportunity to hear or speak it, many of us find it impossible to resist. From God's perspective, even listening to gossip is as bad as speaking it.
To live well in recovery, it’s important to remove our own character defects before we look at or gossip about others. If we don't abide by this rule, our gossiping lifestyle will cause us to shrink away from our own recovery while also discouraging those we gossip with and about.
Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another just as God through Christ has forgiven you. (Ephesians 4:31-32 NLT)
Prayer: Heavenly Father, I am grateful you don’t share the ugly story of my sinful brokenness with others. Help me to honour others as you honour me. Help me to rid myself of the habit of gossiping. Amen
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