Why God Loves That You’re Such A Wet Blanket

Why God Loves That You’re Such a Wet Blanket

Do your ears hang low, do they wobble to and fro . . . every time you hear a rumor, a choice tidbit about someone else?

Does it make you feel trusted when someone cups their hands, leans in and whispers, “Have you heard about so-and-so?”

Let’s face it. Deep down we LOVE to gossip. To bring others down.

But why? The answer to this question is fundamental to understanding the underlying spiritual battles for the health of our soul. Our enemy strives to destroy relationships and to kill our testimony for Christ.

One of our ever-present temptations is to cheer when others fall. Will we so easily fall prey to this poisonous bait?

Gossips find themselves in unpleasant company as shared in this description by Paul of “enemies of God.”

They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice.
They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness.
They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful,
inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless.
Romans 1:29-31

And it’s not just limited to gossip. We can destroy relationships just as easily if we encourage conflict.

A perverse person stirs up conflict, and a gossip separates close friends.
Prov 16:28

So what do we do if we become involved in a conversation that drifts toward gossip or an incident where tempers are rising? Celebrate!

That’s right because this is our GREAT OPPORTUNITY to be the peacemaker God has called us to be.

Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.
James 3:18

In each of these situations we can choose to do one of two things: We can add fuel to the spark or we can throw water on the flames.

Without wood a fire goes out; without a gossip a quarrel dies down.
Prov 25:20

What’s the godly option? Be the wet blanket.

How do we do this? It’s simple. Without arrogance or condemnation and with grace we can:

• Change the subject.
• Stick up for the person who is being slighted.
• Try to diffuse the situation.

It will be uncomfortable. The gossiper may be disappointed you are such a wet blanket.

But that’s okay. Because God will hear every word. And so will the gossiper.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
Matt 5:9

The gossiper will know you CAN be trusted and that you’ll fend for them when they are being slandered. And in a very subtle and safe way you will declare you are different. A follower of Christ. A child of God.

And God loves when his children are peacemakers.

Learn more about the author Michael K. Reynolds