The Unaddressed Sin

Verse of the Day: 1 Samuel 25:10, Then Nabal answered David’s servants, and said, “Who is David, and who is the son of Jesse? There are many servants nowadays who break away each one from his master.

One the of things that none of us will escape is the gossip of others. Sadly, far too many of us speak without thinking how our foolish words will affect those of whom we speak of; especially if what we speak, we speak in ignorance. We can only imagine that it was not only Nabal’s rejection of David’s humble request, but his insults of David, which were based on a lack of knowledge and his own greed, that caused David’s anger and rash actions to take personal vengeance on Nabal. Thankfully, as we read yesterday, God intervened and stopped David when He allowed Abigail to intercede and keep David from doing something he would later regret. How often have we had someone comment about something that happened in our lives that was inaccurate and lacking personal knowledge? How did we feel about it when we found out? Probably as angry as David became. How often have we, forgetting how we felt, done the same thing to someone else? How often do we repeat some “hot, juicy tidbit” we heard without even knowing if what we were told was true? The one thing that we certainly do not consider, because if we did we would be slow to open our mouths, is that when we gossip we grieve the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 4:29-30 clearly states, “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” Nabal spoke insults about David, first and foremost, because he was a foolish and covetous man who did not want to part with his material goods. He spoke words out of ignorance, and false assumptions, knowing not about what David had personally experienced in facing Saul’s betrayal. His insults were only a way to make him feel better about his greed and lack of generosity. Quite often, a person will gossip about another because it draws attention away from their own sinfulness and makes them feel better about themselves. James 1:26 reminds us, “If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless.” In other words, those who deems themselves spiritually mature in their faith, but cannot control their tongues are deceived. Their religiosity is useless to the Lord. There are many verses in the Book of Proverbs that warn against gossip. Yet, this is the one destructive sin that we allow most in our midst in the local church. We are quick to bring someone before the congregation for discipline if we find out they have committed adultery or committed some other “grievous” sin; yet, we overlook gossipers. Instead of correcting them and holding them to the same standard, we turn around and talk amongst ourselves about how much of a gossiper they are. Do we not see the hypocrisy in this? Do we not know that when the words of a gossiper cause division in the local church or amongst brothers and sisters in Christ, God hates it? Proverbs 6:16-19 makes it very clear that God despises division just as much as other sins. It reads, “These six things the LORD hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him: 17 a proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, 18 a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, 19 a false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren.” The one thing that those of us who have been victims of other people’s gossip must remember is that people will always talk, even if they know not what they are talking about. If this is true of any of us, then we are in good company. John the Baptist and Jesus were both spoken of falsely in Luke 4:33-35. It reads, “For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ 34 The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ 35 But wisdom is justified by all her children.” The acceptable sin of gossip is one of the most dangerous sins we live with. Why? It is most dangerous because the devils use it as a way to break up the local church from the inside out. The sins that are overlooked and unaddressed, even though God speaks so vehemently against them, will spread like wildfire and cause division within families, friends, and the body of Christ. The charge today is to stop gossip in its tracks. Do not be the “fire starter” amongst the brethren. Do not speak words about someone we would not speak if they were present. Do not repeat things we hear without really knowing the facts. As a matter of fact do not repeat it at all, regardless! If someone comes to us with a juicy piece of gossip, politely tell them that we want no part of it. Remember, a person who gossips to us about someone else, will gossip to others about us. I would be remiss if I failed to repeat that the greatest consequence of gossip is that we grieve the Holy Spirit. Let us not take so lightly sin that offends our Lord and Savior.

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).