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Bible Verse: Proverbs 16:27 "A worthless man plots evil, and his speech is like a scorching fire."
Insight: I find it interesting that there is so much to be said about the way we use our words within scripture. Just within this devotional alone, we have gone through countless passages that talk about the power of our words. Gossip is something that surrounds us; we see it in headlines about celebrities, we hear it in the grocery store amongst friends, and we even hear it within our circle of family and friends. It's prevalent and may seem harmless because the victim isn't a part of the conversation, but is that really the way that God asks us to choose our words? Gossip is tricky because sometimes it's just simply around us and feels unavoidable, or sometimes we become part of the problem. The intentions behind our words are powerful. Are we trying to dig up more information about that person because we are nosey? Is what we're saying about that person something you'd want to be said about you when you're not around? These are powerful questions we should keep in mind when we speak about others because even if we are not the main cause of the gossip, we can still contribute. Let's strive to love others as we love ourselves and be as cautious with our words as God tells us to be.
Work application: Some work environments can promote gossip. Like I said before, gossip is tricky, especially when it surrounds us. I have had many instances within different work experiences that promoted talking negatively about others. It can be hard to be in that situation because it's not so easy to simply remove yourself. I think when it comes to gossip and to this scripture, we should find the best way to either remove ourselves or diffuse the situation. We cannot control other people, but we can control ourselves, and the words we speak and strive to create the best work environment we possibly can. Sarah Y. Tse co-author of From Illusion to Reality expresses the importance there is for her to set up a company culture and create ground rules that gossip is not tolerated. She explains that gossip will only destroy trust and relationships within the company and hurt the company’s overall morale. As the CEO she expresses how important it is for her to address the issue and talk about this topic during the hiring process, address it when it happens, and make sure to keep the employee with the tendency to gossip accountable. Unfortunately, there were times she would have to discharge an employee whose gossiping simply could not be stopped. As individuals, we have the power to set a standard of kindness and respect amongst our coworkers. Let's strive to create a healthy and productive work environment.
Grateful: I am grateful that God continues to grow me every day and that He gives me the ability to show kindness in what I say.
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Contributor: Jessica Carrera holds a B.A. in English with a concentration in writing and a minor in Biblical Studies from Biola University. She aspires to touch the lives of others through her words.