Gossip's not Godly!

'Praises and curses come from the same mouth...this should not happen.'

JAMES 3:10


The Bible says: 'We use our tongues to praise our Lord...but then we curse people whom God made like himself...this should not happen' (James 3:8-10 NCV).

When we're full on for God, praising Him in church or youth group on a Sunday, but then take the rip out of someone at school or college on Monday, it breaks God's heart. Even if you think you're only saying something that's true, if it hurts someone else, or puts them down, God says it's wrong.

Trying to justify our gossip doesn't help, because even if we don't say it to someone's face, what we say about someone affects the way that others see them; they can judge them without even knowing them.

A good habit to get into with your mates, is to agree that if one of you starts to say something bad about someone, just say 'Hang about, but did they hurt you, or put you down? Does God love them too?'

If someone has hurt you or upset you, ask your friends to pray about your attitude to them with you, instead of dissing them behind their back. We learn from the Bible that we should 'Be...gentle, and patient, accepting each other in love...' (Ephesians 4:2-3).

We all get stuff wrong and hurt others, so we all need this; why not start by practicing patience with others today, and loving them instead of gossiping about them.