ODJ: the grapevine
October 20, 2010
A gossip goes around telling secrets, so don’t hang around with chatterers (v.19).
READ: Proverbs 20:15-19
I Heard It Through the Grapevine,” a song written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong in 1966, was recorded by Gladys Knight and the Pips and later by Marvin Gaye. It became one of the biggest hits on the Motown label. Its point was that while the telegraph is obsolete, the informal transmission of information, gossip, or rumor from person to person is still going strong.
Solomon said that not only is grapevine gossip wrong, it is dangerous, unwise, and ungodly. The original word for gossip meant “birds picking up seed.” When applied to a person, it meant one who was an information scavenger, picking up seeds of information (rumors or facts) about others and foolishly or maliciously spreading them around. Solomon not only called this person an information scavenger, but he also categorized him as a fool (Proverbs 10:18).
Grapevine gossip leads to disastrous effects. It separates close friends (16:28), betrays a confidence (11:13), shames and saddles him or her with a bad reputation (25:9-10), perpetually fuels the embers of a quarrel (26:20), and is an indication that the person is not walking obediently with God. Therefore, God condemned grapevine gossip and implemented a zero tolerance policy for it because it tears the fabric of holy communion with Him and holy community with others (Lev. 19:16).
In our world of email, text messaging, Instant Messaging, Facebook, Twitter, and other communication and social media outlets, it’s extremely easy for any of us to become information scavengers and grapevine gossips. We can resist these temptations by avoiding people who talk too much (Proverbs 20:19), asking God for strength to avoid sinning with our words (Proverbs 10:19; Psalm 39:1), talking to God, and saying only what will build up rather than tear down (Ephesians 4:29). —Marvin Williams
What are some ways you can prevent unwholesome talk from coming out of your mouth? What words can you use to build up and give life to another person this week?
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