Proverbs 11:13

Tale Bearers

Okay so tonight another Proverb Wednesday

If you guys have your bibles, turn them over to Proverbs 11

How many of you guys, be honest, have gossiped before ?

How many of you know what Gossip is ?

Someone want to define it ?

Gossip is defined as sinful speech: talking behind someones back about private matters, it is destructive speech rooted in pride and evil and reveals secrets

Gossip is destructive because a-lot of Gossip is rooted in things that aren’t even true ( Hear say )

When we are hanging out with friends having casual conversation, a-lot of times we don’t even realize that we are gossiping

I believe that Gossip is one thing in our culture today that Plagues the church because everyone loves to talk and everyone loves to have the inside scoop

but the scary thing about gossip in our culture, is that sometimes we don’t even realize we are doing it and most of the time when we are doing it, in our minds we are trying to justify that its okay to talk about it

throughout Proverbs , we see King Solomons warning and advice toward this sinful act, We also see the topic of Gossip in other portions of Scripture, which we will talk about

( Expound )

Proverbs 11:13 “13 A talebearer reveals secrets, But he who is of a faithful spirit conceals a matter.”

1) A tale bearer reveals secrets;

a tale bearer is someone who is a gossiper , someone who tells stories that are untrue, malicious and secret revealing

when ever I read verses Like this it makes me think of our reputation, some of us when it comes to gossip or talking, develop either a good reputation or a bad one

Its crazy to think about this because when you think about people who love gossip,( who are always involved in it) , im sure you guys know without even thinking who those people are

people even at this very church, if I were to ask you who is known to be a gossiper and a talker you could instantly give me a name ( I could tell you multiple right now but I don’t want to gossip )

Now i wont actually do that and please keep that to yourself, but its important to actually think about that the next time you might let your guard down and start gossiping

when its your reputation on the line it makes you think about this from a different perspective

would you gossip if you knew that you were going to develop a reputation as a gossiper ? Probably not , so why do it ?

talebearers, people who love gossip when you look at the character of those people its almost like they think they have some form of power because they “Know things that most People Don’t” , they don’t have the ability to keep their mouth closed either

How many of you like to be friends with people that love gossip ?

I don’t and over the years Ive learned who I can trust with things and those I can not trust ( give an example )

Let me tell you this, if someone is willing to tell you things about another person and gossip behind their back, what makes you think that they wouldn’t do it to you ? After all its become part of their character

Who do you want to be known as?

If you guys are around gossip, its important to shut it down and to stay away from it, One of the biggest dis services we can do for other believers is not shut down the gossip when it is happening, if you are listening to it and not doing anything about it, you are just as guilty as the people speaking !

Be mindful of who you call friends, especially tale bearers

2) But he who is of a faithful spirit conceals a matter.

again going off of the reputation of a person and the character of a person

a man or woman of a faithful spirit knows when to keep a secret and when it is appropriate to keep a secret

those are the type of people that we can trust and confide in. Over time you start to see who is mature in the lord and who has the ability to be tight lipped

A person who has love in their heart will lovingly conceal a matter

those are the people you want to be friends with, people you can trust , people that have the conviction not to gossip

Proverbs 20:19 “19 He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets; Therefore do not associate with one who flatters with his lips.”

James 3:8–10 “8 But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. 10 Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.”

with the very tongue we use to build each-other up , we can also bring others down with gossip

don’t be that guy or girl that is into drama and talking about other peoples business, you’ll become known as that person and eventually people will not want to hang out with you

be consistent and develop the type of character that people want to gravitate towards. Be real not fake, be honest not a liar

Ill Close with this last verse

Matthew 12:36–37 “36 But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. 37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.””

we will be judged by every word that comes out of our mouth

idle words are words that do nothing,

words that don’t minister grace or give instruction are idle words, Gossip is idle words that do nothing, they are worthless and pointless.

words that come out of our mouth reflect where our heart is and we will be judged off of what is coming out of our mouth

Gossip is very easy , so my encouragement to you guys just like last Wednesday is to think before you speak

Are you gossiping or are you edifying. Are you talking bad about others or are you doing the right thing and going to people and being real with them ?

Gossip is so easy and we don’t even realize we do it. Don’t be that person !!