A gossip betrays confidence, but a trustworthy person keeps a secret. – Proverbs 11:13
Anyone who gossips to you will also gossip about you. | WATCH ON YOUTUBE
Gossip is the casual or unconstrained conversation or reports about other people, typically involving details which are not confirmed as true.
The unfaithful talebearer or gossip is one who goes from person to person making it his or her business to scatter reports. Such a person loves the power and intrigue of revealing secrets. To be able to reveal secrets gives a sense of power that is used for their own advancement.
A person of a faithful spirit is one who conceals a matter. A trustworthy person is guided by love and wisdom and knows when it is appropriate to conceal a matter.
Socrates, who was lauded for his wisdom, advocated the ‘Test of Three’ as a filter to be applied on any rumour. The tests of truth, goodness, and usefulness. In this test, you are to filter the information you intend to pass on through three questions. First, ask yourself if the information you are about to pass on is true and not some hearsay. The second is to ask yourself if the information that is being passed on is something good about the person. And, finally, ask yourself if the information to be conveyed is useful, either to the hearer or the person about whom it is. And if the information you intend to share does not pass all these tests, do not pass it on.
This filter has been found to be very practical and effective in stemming unnecessary gossip. You will be surprised how little information passes through all three filters.
Would you choose to apply the ‘Test of Three’ to your conversations?
Lord guard my mouth that I may not sin with my words, I pray.
Extended Reading — Proverbs 10-12
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