Scripture: Proverbs 11:13
"A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy man keeps a secret" NIV
The dictionary describes a gossip as a person who habitually spreads intimate or private rumors.
From personal experience --- counseling people who are motivated to gossip --- I can add --- gossip does way more harm than good.
One day Bobby met his best friend Dan and said, "Do you know what I just heard about Tommy?" "Hold on a minute," Dan replied. "Before telling me anything I'd like you to pass the TUG Filter Test."
"TUG Filter Test?" "That's right," Dan continued. "Before you talk to me about our friend, it might be a good idea to take a moment and filter what you're going to say. That's why I call it the TUG Filter Test
The first of the TUG Filters is TRUTH:
Have you made absolutely sure that what you are about to tell me is true?" No," Bobby said, "actually I just heard about it from Susie and ---" "All right," said Dan. "So you don't know if it's true!"
The Second of the TUG Filters is USEFULNESS:
Bobby, "Is what you want to tell me about Tommy going to be useful to me?" "Well, no, not really!" "Well," concluded Dan, "If what you want to tell me is not useful maybe you should better evaluate your intent."
The last of the TUG Filters in GOODNESS:
"Is what you are about to tell me about our friend something good?" "No, to the contrary ---" "So," Dan continued, "If what you want to tell me about Tommy is not true --- not good --- and not even useful --- why tell me at all?"
So when confronted with a gossip situation --- combat it with TUG. Conversation that is truthful, useful and good.
Eph 4:29 says, "Let no corrupt conversation proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good for the use of edifying."
I have noticed that most of the time when two or more people get together, they "will" talk negative about someone; almost seems that they don't have anything to talk about that is positive.
It sure makes a difference in how you feel when you leave someone who has good stuff to share with you.
Let's practice saying only good stuff and watch the reactions of the one-s we talk to.
