Why We Love Gossip—and Why It Hurts So Much (Proverbs 18:8)
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Proverbs 18:8
The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels;
they go down into the inner parts of the body.
This week we’re going to look at what Proverbs has to say about gossip. Gossip, to me, is a sin that’s similar to gluttony. It’s prevalent and arguably even rampant in our culture, but it doesn’t get much coverage or light shed on it.
But the Proverbs certainly don’t sweep gossip under the rug, and we’ll see that all this week. First, Proverbs 18:8 shows us gossip’s appeal. What’s the buzz for it? Why does everyone do it?
The first part of our verse says:
‘The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels;’
There’s your why. Gossip is attractive. It’s hard to resist. This part of the verse compares it to delicious morsels, which is the equivalent of whatever your favorite food is. I feel like dessert is a great comparison here. Who doesn’t want some dessert? A nice warm brownie with some ice cream on top? I’ll tell you, for me that’s impossible to resist.
There’s a reason why we love gossip. It fuels much of our entertainment on TV, and it also unfortunately can serve as entertainment in conversation as well. It’s attractive and enticing!
But just like too much dessert can leave you feeling sick, gossip leaves something much worse – it wounds.
The second part of our verse says the words of a whisperer ‘...go down into the inner parts of the body.’
Gossip may seem harmless on the surface, but even if it draws no blood, it leaves an internal wound that is hard to heal.
It wounds us in the most delicate of places where it hurts most.
It’s funny because I think the enemy gets us (or me at least) to buy into the lie that gossip is just mere entertainment and it’s only a shallow, surface-level thing. But in thinking deeper about that, I’m reminded of the times I’ve found out people I considered good friends were saying poor things about me behind my back, and it cut me so deep. Has that ever happened to you? Have you felt the effects of gossip? It hurts. It’s not even really a physical pain; it’s like a heavy sinking feeling in your chest. It’s like the wind’s been knocked out of you.
That’s why I think gossip is like the forbidden woman in Proverbs. The honey seems sweet… but the sting is real. Gossip is just as attractive and just as dangerous. And we have to fight against it.
So in reflecting on this verse today, reflect on your conversations and language with others.
Are you someone who gossips?
Are you someone who others feel comfortable gossiping to?
When are you tempted to gossip?
And how does the gospel inform how we move forward and converse with people?
Let’s pray.
(But here’s the good news – Jesus changes our hearts. If gossip is a sin that wounds, He is the healer. The more we abide in Him, the more our words shift from tearing down to building up.)
