The Way we Think!

The WAY we think determines our attitudes, actions, and reactions.

Those who think with the mind of Christ will automatically determine what is to be done or said based on God's Word.

Their mind will be led by the Holy Spirit able to dismiss what does not edify.

Those who are self-righteous and self-absorbed will automatically interpret events in terms of how they want to believe and not on the facts. Their determinations are derived from many factors, often jealousy, greed or rebellion against the truth.

The most analytical people are those who do not make judgments rashly, on how they feel but will wait for all the evidence to be discovered before making a decision about what they think they see. These people will ignore things that are none of their business and interview with an uncluttered mind those they love to find out the truth.

Weak-minded gossips will take what little information they have, make their desired judgment, and pass that flawed and unsound distorted view onto willing hearers who are invested in retaining the friendship. Truth is not very important to those who love their gossip, only gaining allies to themselves takes priority. There is little sensible and intelligent thinking involved in the assessments of those who gossip.

Proverbs. 17:9a - “He who covers a transgression seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates intimate friends.”

Proverbs 20:19 – “He who goes about as a slanderer reveals secrets, therefore do not associate with a gossip.”

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

"4 Love is patient, love is kind, it is not jealous; love does not brag, it is not arrogant. 5 It does not act disgracefully, it does not seek its own benefit; it is not provoked, does not keep an account of a wrong suffered, 6 it does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; 7 it keeps every confidence, it believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things."

Lets review the elements of love:

Love is patient and kind

Love does not envy or boast

Love is not arrogant or rude

Love does not insist on its own way

Love is not irritable or resentful

Love does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things

Love never ends:

Sharing something that happened to us personally to a close friend is not gossip. Sharing things we believe might have happened but we have little information about is gossip and it is designed to hurt others while inviting others to hurt them too.

Good responses to gossips might be:

"I don't know that is true", or "I have no need to know that" or "who does it help for you to tell me that?" You can think of your own words to shut down gossip.

Taking sides and making personal allies are what drive the one who gossips, it makes them feel superior, they are weak and in need of others to join their club. Don't do it!!!

I have fallen into the trap of feeling sorry for someone only to find out later the one who gossiped was the problem and not the one they gossiped about.

I have also fallen into the trap of sharing with someone I thought was a good friend only to find out later they gossiped to others what I told them, but not the way I told it to them.

I have learned my lessons well and avoid those who tend to elevate themselves above others through gossip.

Cherish those friends who can be trusted with your trials and experiences in life because they are few.

Proverbs 18:24

"A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother."

John 15:13

"Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends."

Proverbs 27:5-6

"Better is open rebuke than hidden love. Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy. "