Gossip

A farmer had been absent from worship services the past couple of Sundays. Being concerned about this the preacher went one Sunday afternoon to see if there was a problem. He found the farmer plowing in the field.

The preacher told the farmer, “We’ve been missing you at services lately.”

The farmer responded, “I know I should be there, but I just have to get this plowing done.”

“Do you think that it is wise to be plowing your field when you should be worshipping the Lord?” the preacher asked.

The farmer answered, “I’m plowing far from the barn, so that nobody will see me.”

“But God can see you” the preacher said.

The farmer replied, “I know that, but He doesn’t gossip.”

“A perverse man scattereth abroad strife; And a whisperer separateth chief friends.” Proverbs 16: 28 ASV

Just because the content of our gossip is true, does not change it from being gossip. As a matter of fact the gossip which causes the greatest strife is often the gossip which is true. If we believe that a brother or sister is guilty of some transgression, the person to speak to is that brother or sister. Not everybody else! As the farmer said, “God doesn’t gossip” and neither should we.

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