Zip It – Daggers, Fire, Destruction & Forgiveness – Notes from BCC, 2/22/09
Four types of gossipers:
1. “I love that guy gossiper” (I would also call this the “Bless her heart” gossiper)
2. Prayer Request gossiper
3. I don’t know when to shut up gossiper
4. I told the truth gossiper
“I find myself in a pride of lions who are wild for a taste of human flesh; their teeth are lances and arrows, their tongues as sharp as daggers.” Psalms 57:4
Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire. James 3:5-6
Gossip is destructive, it doesn’t care who it hurts. Whether you realize it or intend to do it, what you say sparks a fire – doesn’t matter if it is fact. It can set a wildfire in someones life.
The tongue leaves a path of destruction and doesn’t look back to see the destruction it leaves behind.
“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs.” Ephesians 4:29
Stop talking about people and start talking to people. Encourage people and share the hope that we have within us.
Clean up the destruction by asking for forgiveness – confess what you have done.
“This is how I want you to conduct yourself in these matters. If you enter your place of worship and, about to make an offering, you suddenly remember a grudge a friend has against you, abandon your offering, leave immediately, go to this friend and make things right. Then, and only then, come back and work things out with God.” Matthew 5:23-24
We’ve all left a path of destruction behind us, not intentional – we may not even know the effect of what we’ve done.
Your relationship with God is directly linked to your relationship with others.
Who have you left in your path of destruction? Who must you ask for forgiveness?
“Your relationship with God is directly linked to your relationship with others.” So true!