BIG MOUTH DISEASE: aka, gossip

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As Always
Bro Uchefe Atuyota
Editor in Chief

In between classes your best friend passes on a juicy piece of news to you about one of your other friends or anyone. What do you do? Are you tempted to tell the next person you see or make an announcement on the public address system at your school? Or do you politely inform your best friend that you wish she wouldn't pass gossip to you? If you’re like me you find that your tongue gets you in more trouble than you can imagine. There have been more times than I can count when I remember thinking after I spoke that I deeply regretted even opening my mouth. The problem with words is you can never take them back. Once they’re spoken, the damage is done. Someone is usually left wounded. Proverbs 18:21 says, “The tongue has the power of life and death.” Wow – is that ever true. Let’s take a look at some practical ways to bring our big mouths under control – God’s control.

Filter your words: Before you speak make it a point to see if your words fit the criteria for God’s communication guidelines. Ephesians 4:29 says, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” If what you are going to say, passes that test, fire away. Pray daily about your words: This may sound funny, but God tells us in His Word to pray about everything. Many of us need to start praying for those mouths of ours, that God would overhaul them and that our words would honor Him. You may want to find some verses to pray daily and post them in places where you’ll see them. You could place one on your mirror and another in your schoolbooks. Psalm 19:14 says, “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.” Another good verse to pray is Psalm 39:1 which says, “I will watch my ways and keep my tongue from sin; I will put a muzzle on my mouth as long as the wicked are in my presence.” Anyone need a muzzle? I’ll be the first to confess that I sometimes do. Memorize God’s Word: Did you know that the things you say reveal your heart? If you want to change the way you speak you need to change the things you focus your attention on. The more you fill up with God’s Word, the less you’ll have to worry about that tongue of yours getting you in trouble. Will you commit to memorize His Word? If so, others will start to notice a difference in you. Philippians 4:8 says, “Whatever is true, whatever is noble, wherever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.” Commit to speak the truth – even when it hurts: It is so easy to lie when the truth will get us in trouble. Our culture calls these lies “little white lies”. But according to God’s standards a lie is a lie. Will you commit to always tell the truth, even when you know it would be easier to lie? Speaking truth should be a defining characteristic of someone growing in Christ. Proverbs 4:24 says, “Put away perversity from your mouth; keep corrupt talk from your lips.” Ask forgiveness when your words have hurt another: Ouch! This is a hard one. But the more you ask people to forgive you, the easier it will be for you to keep your mouth closed the next time you’re tempted to use it to harm. If you know of someone that has been hurt by your words, make it a point to talk to them this week and apologize. This goes for anytime in the future as well. Humble yourself and tell them you were wrong. Matthew 5:23-24 says, “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother (or sister) has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.” Resist passing on gossip about others: Simply keep your mouth closed. If you know something that would damage another person the whole world doesn’t need to know it. Your best friend doesn’t even need to know it. Don’t pass it on. Just pray for the person and keep quiet. You don’t even know for sure if what you heard is true, and you are not to be the informant for your school. Plain and simple, keep quiet. James 3:9-10 says, “With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing…. This should not be.” Choose friends who share your convictions: It’s hard to honor God with your lips when all your friends are habitual gossipers. So what should you do? Dump your friends and start all over? No, simply share with them your convictions and tell them you won’t participate in vulgar talk or gossip. If you are around them and they forget, simply remind them of your request. If they don’t respect your conviction, then remove yourself from the situation. You should also pray for friends who share your commitment to honor Christ in what they say. Choose to spend the most time with these friends. Proverbs 10:19 says, “When words are many, sin is not absent; but he who holds his tongue is wise.”
While we’ll never become absolutely perfect, we can grow in maturity in the area of our big mouths. Will you allow God to change you and tame your tongue? If so, you’ll find He can use you as a more effective witness on your campus – and you’ll stop having that sickening feeling after you say something you regret. “He who guards his lips guards has life; but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin,” Proverbs 13:3.

Ebiere MakioNiger

Delta University,500 level pharmacy.