Gossip Shows the Wickedness of Our Sin Nature – (Proverbs 18:8)
Daily Proverbs
Daily Bible Study
The phrase used here "tasty trifles," is from the Hebrew language and it means to "swallow greedily." The word is used here to best describe the true heart of gossip, which is wickedness and sin, put in use to destroy others. Gossip combines some of the worst sins mankind has to offer, because it wraps up envy, strife, hatred and destruction, and feeds it to us as a tasty morsel. And because of our sin nature, we cannot wait to take it in and spread it to others. Gossip is one of the true evidences that fallen humanity has a sin nature, because left to our own devices, all would gossip. Gossip allows people to take their jealousy, their anger, their pride, their envy and hate along with other bad feelings and wrap them up into a lie, or at best a half-truth devoid of any real information regarding context. And that's the reason gossip is so dangerous, because it is meant for destruction. And we can see this at work in our fallen world today, no matter how sophisticated the presentation, many organizations use gossip today and call it news.
Those who gossip will hide and use whatever situation is available, in order to not be discovered as the originators of the gossip. They do so because they do not want their attack stopped, before anyone can hear it and it begins to spread. And because of our sin-nature, and the fallen world we live in, we in our own sin eagerly swallow it up. And we do so because we secretly hope bad things come to those who are the object of the gossip. Moreover, many will use gossip as the justification for wishing ill on those around us. Therefore, gossip more than many other sins, shows us the true heart of fallen humanity, as well as our need for a Savior. A Savior who will not only wash us clean from the sins which stain us so, but who will also bring about God's desired change in our hearts and minds. That Savior is Christ Jesus our Lord! And for those who are in Christ and claim the name of Jesus, we are to stay clear of gossip, not by our own power, but by the power of the Holy Spirit who indwells all followers of Jesus. We are to pray for the strength to deal with it when it rears its ugly head, and we are to pray for strength to avoid it through the wisdom and guidance of the Holy Spirit.