March 5
Removing Yourself
from Gossip
Proverbs 26:20
For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no gossip, quarreling ceases.
Daily Steps
Relational peace is instantly shattered by destructive communication, particularly gossip and quarreling. For a new believer, setting boundaries means not only guarding your own tongue but also choosing to remove yourself from conversations that destroy unity.
This verse uses a simple image: gossip is the "wood" that fuels the destructive "fire" of quarreling. When you choose to stop listening to or repeating negative talk about others, the fire is starved, and the quarreling "ceases."
Setting a boundary against gossip is an act of spiritual discipline that protects your peace in three ways:
Protects Your Mind: It keeps you from filling your heart with judgment and negativity towards others.
Protects Your Reputation: It establishes you as a trustworthy person who champions unity.
Protects the Community: It actively stops conflict from spreading.
Your peace is too valuable to sacrifice for the temporary satisfaction of sharing or listening to gossip. Walk away from the fire and secure your peace.
Reflective Question
Have you recently been in a conversation that felt like gossip or fueled quarreling? What phrase or action can you practice today to gracefully and kindly remove yourself from that type of conversation?
Prayer
Lord, I pray for the discipline to control my tongue and my ears. Help me to recognize the "wood" of gossip and the destructive "fire" of quarreling.
I choose to set a healthy boundary against all destructive talk, prioritizing unity and peace in my relationships. May my silence and my words both reflect Your kindness today. Amen.
