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Episode 91:
Devoured by Gossip
Originally Aired On: Monday, May 26, 2008
Program Length: 2 minutes, 0 second
Topic: gossip, slander
Scripture Reference: Galatians 5:15
Guest(s): N/A
Description
There are few things that can hurt your spirit as badly as the malice, gossip and deceit of other people. When your reputation is ripped to shreds by someone you can’t help but desire to retaliate. When you are called names and accused falsely of things, it is as if the only natural response to revenge. But is that really the best response?
Transcript
Have you ever been hurt by other people so badly that it is like you can physically feel the pain in your chest? They say things to you, or about you, slandering your name and you can’t figure what exactly you ever did to deserve their loathing words. The emotional pain of it all is excruciating…
Believe me, I know. I’ve been there recently. I’ve experience that pain.
This is Honest to God Radio and I’m Josh Weidmann.
There are few things that can hurt your spirit as badly as the malice, gossip and deceit of other people. When your reputation is ripped to shreds by someone you can’t help but desire to retaliate. When you are called names and accused falsely of things, it is as if the only natural response to revenge. But is that really the best response?
Recently I had two close friends attach me in a very personal way. They told thing to others about me that simply weren’t true. Behind my back they called me names, yet the never gave any reasoning for such brutal titles. Their cases were false. Their motives were selfish. But their destruction to me as a person was devastating.
It would’ve been real easy for me to turn around and begin to slander the names of the men that did this to me. I could’ve started spreading things that I know about them that would’ve tarnished their reputation… but for what reason… to feel better about myself by winning their game of gossip!?!
When we are in pain, it is easy to be controlled by the hurt. We want nothing more than to ease our pain because of another person by turning around and attaching them. But this is not what Christ did when he was attached both emotionally and physically… and neither should we.
In Galatians 5, Paul just finishes quoting the golden rule – ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’ – and then goes on to say, “But if you take bites out of one another, be careful that you are not consumed by one another.” This vivid picture of ‘taking bites’ out of another person is what happens to us when others spread rumors, call names or have backstabbing conversations about us. But is his words are a great warning to us – be careful that you are not consumed!
Yes it may hurt when others speak wrongly of us, but we must not become consumed by it! The best response is to turn to the Lord with our pain. We can’t turn around and starting taking bites out of the very one who is devouring us – this would be falling into the “consuming” trap Paul is warning us of.
Stay strong Christian. Remember, Christ is who you are living your life for. He sees all and knows all and He will bless you for your righteousness. Stay humble. Stay clean. Stay strong.