Is silence or gossip golden?

It's so easy to share other peoples news.

When we find out about something that is surprising or amazing we have to share it with someone else.

We gossip.

Guys like to say this is a woman thing but the truth is it's a human thing.

I have struggled with gossip and don't know why I just can't sometimes.

The one thing I do well is once someone tells me do not share this with anyone, I won't.

Being a minister some people tell me some messed up things and as long as it doesn't hurt them or someone else, the secret stays with me.

In youth group we have tested gossip before.

There is a game called telephone that we have done.

You start out saying one line then go around the room repeating that line to the next person.

By the time you get to the end of the line, the thing you started saying is often nothing like the finish saying.

How could this happen?

We all have different ways of interpreting what happens.

It's the same with gossip, one thing we hear could be completely blown out of proportion by the end.

Ever get stuck in a situation like this?

Some news is worth sharing, but we are stuck asking ourselves what's the point of sharing this?

It happen to people in the Bible just like it happens today.

Jesus heals a man with leprosy, as he is leaving he told him this in Mark 1:44…

"See that you don't tell this to anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them."

The next line…

Instead he went out and began to talk freely, spreading the news. As a result, Jesus could no longer enter a town openly but stayed outside in lonely places. Yet the people still came to him from everywhere.

He couldn't do the simple thing he asked him too.

I always wonder what was Jesus point?

Did he know this man's heart and that he would share it with everyone?

Or did he not know what was going to happen?

The result of the man telling everyone is that he could no longer enter a town when he went to visit a place and the people still came.

It feels good or feels like we are important when we hear gossip.

Often it's a dilemma in our heads to tell or not to tell.

What do you think?

How do you deal with gossip?

Could you imagine being miraculously healed and told not to tell anyone?

What would you do?

Have a great day.