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. Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him
not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. 1 Peter, Chapter 4, verses 15-16.
It’s easy to become self-righteous thinking, “Well,
at least I haven’t killed anyone or stolen anything.” It’s humbling to read how God feels that
busybodies are just as sinful. Getting
caught up in talking about others is one of the ways that Satan works a subtle
wedge in the lives of Christians. It’s
easy to get caught up in gossip, but we need to take a stand. Sometimes just ignoring a situation is
condoning that behavior. It’s not always
easy to let people know that you feel uncomfortable talking about others, but
God will give you the words, if you let Him.
Here are some related passages:
*Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your
mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace
unto the hearers. Ephesians, Chapter 4,
verse 29.
*Let all bitterness, and wrath and anger, and
clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: and be ye
kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s
sake hath forgiven you. Ephesians,
Chapter 4, verses 31-32.
Because this is an example of how I’ve applied this Bible passage to my life, it doesn't necessarily reflect the whole meaning of the passage.
