The Gossip

Good morning and welcome in everybody.  Today, we are going to take a look at a passage of scripture from 1st Timothy.

“And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.” 1 Timothy 5:13

One of the definitions for tattle is to tell secrets or gossip about someone else, especially about their personal or private affairs. Sometimes people will maliciously get involved in the lives of other people, which can destroy their reputations. For example, one of the most guarded relationships is between a man and his wife. Inside of this relationship there is information that is not meant to be shared with anybody else. It is a relationship that’s based upon trust, as you share things with each other that are completely hidden from the view of your own children or the outside world. But quite often during divorce proceedings, a bitter and cruel spouse will publicly divulge private information about the other party in order to find favor in the sight of others. It can be used as an opportunity to lift themselves up in the eyes of others, and to shove their spouse into the dirt. Private information that was given in confidence is used as a weapon to hurt, disparage and to humiliate others. A cold and bitter wife might reveal things that were kept in confidence during her marriage, including their sexual relationship with each other. They will go as far as to share this information with their own children which is extremely wicked and evil. Many times I pity the judges who have to listen to this behavior day in and day out. 

Once again to tattle is to let out secrets. A secret is something kept from knowledge of others or shared only confidentially. It is something that is shared privately, not publicly. You might tell one of your closest friends something that you have never told anybody else in your life. You trust them enough to get it off your chest. A week later you notice that people are looking at you in a different manner because your so-called friend went behind your back and told everybody the secret that was shared between the two of you. This is probably the reason for many lucrative book deals out in the world today.

Letting out secrets is to gossip about others. It is idle talk or rumor, especially about the personal and private affairs of others. A tale bearer is a person who maliciously gossips and reveals secrets. If somebody sins in the church, we are supposed to confess our faults one to another, but sometimes people depart from the faith, abandon the church, and then gossip about the secret things that they know about others. Consider the extremely confidential and private matter that happened in the life of Noah, which should have been kept secret. 

Genesis 9 ²⁰ And Noah began to be an husbandman, and he planted a vineyard: ²¹ And he drank of the wine, and was drunken; and he was uncovered within his tent. ²² And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brethren without. ²³ And Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it upon both their shoulders, and went backward, and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces were backward, and they saw not their father’s nakedness. ²⁴ And Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his younger son had done unto him. ²⁵ And he said, Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren. ²⁶ And he said, Blessed be the LORD God of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant. ²⁷ God shall enlarge Japheth, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant.

“He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.” Proverbs 20:19

“A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.” Proverbs 11:13

A busybody is defined as a meddling or prying person. Sometimes they are called nosy, someone who involves themselves in the affairs of other people. They are too interested in things that do not directly concern them. A busybody will maliciously get involved with another man’s household, trying to influence or change things that are not their responsibility. A man is responsible for his own home, as they are his seed. He is ordained by God to command his wife and children, but a meddler will try to come in between that relationship that he has with them. This can happen through many different relationships, whether it’s relatives, in-laws or even grandparents, who meddle in the affairs of another man’s home. God is not mocked, and He most certainly will punish that behavior.

“But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters.” 1 Peter 4:15

“For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.” 2 Thessalonians 3:11

“It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.” Proverbs 20:3

Men of God on the other hand are responsible to God to exert Spiritual influence over the Church of Christ. They are going to become closely involved in your lives so as to make sure that you continue on the path of biblical truth. When they baptize you, and you share Holy Communion with them, our lives are going to become very closely knit with each other, as we confess our faults, repent of our sins, and submit to the will of God. Close interpersonal relationships develop out of a love for Christ and His teachings. The Apostle Paul was like a Spiritual dad, and He commanded others to preach, reprove and correct in time of need. This is the calling of the disciples of the Lord, and they will certainly be involved closely in the lives of families within the church of believers. When there was fornication going on in the church, the Apostle Paul got himself involved because it is a matter concerning the House of God. But this is very different from a busy body. 

A busybody is someone who is led by a malicious and evil heart, who’s true intention is to lead people astray from God. The devil is a prime example of a busybody, after all, he meddled in the affairs of Adam’s family in order to lead Eve astray from the will of God. Obviously God is going to destroy the wicked, but the devil desires to come in between, and destroy our relationships in Christ. Like I said for years, the devil’s desire is to gain influence over your own family and children, and lead them right into the fires of hell. This is what he did in the garden of Eden, and the result was their removal from Paradise. 

“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy:…..John 10:10

Some women have nothing better to do with their time than to be calculating, malicious busybodies, speaking things that they ought not. They are idle talebearers, who have nothing more to do with their day than to hurt the lives of others. Just like a serpent, they have sharpened their tongues, but God will avenge His servants with the Sword of His Word, and shut down all the evil works of……

….. The Gossip

Let’s think about these things for right now.  We can be found on your web browser by searching, tlkjbc where you can find our diaries distributed through various platforms. We are not associated, nor affiliated with any other religious groups. You can get our entire podcast feeds directly, along with transcripts at tlkjbc.com or I suppose you could find us somewhere up here, in the Great Northern Minnesota woods. Peace to you all, and Lord willing, we will talk with you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye bye everybody.❤️

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