Whenever people come together, whether it be church, the workplace, or anywhere else, gossip can be as destructive as a wildfire. Proverbs 26:20 gives us a great illustration of just how destructive gossip really is. Just like a fire needs wood to keep burning, so does conflict need gossip to continue spreading. When the wood is removed, the fire dies; likewise, when gossip ceases, lots of problems will die out.

Gossip can begin very innocently, with a short comment made in passing or a whispered remark. Yet, like a small flame, it can catch fire and quickly grow out of control, and causes widespread damage. Relationships are damaged, trust is broken, and unity is shattered. Gossip thrives on the weaknesses and mistakes of others, shining a bright light on faults and creating an environment where negativity and cynicism grow rampant.

In contrast, when gossip is removed, people can thrive. Everyone is less cynical, more trusting, and has a stronger sense of unity. When gossip dies, that makes room for all of us to focus on things that build up and encourage one another. (Philippians 4:8).

Becoming Peacemakers

As followers of Jesus Christ, we are called to be peacemakers. This means that we should not only be careful to avoid gossip ourselves, but we should also try to prevent it from spreading as much as possible. Proverbs 26:20 lets us know that more wood is going to lead to a bigger fire. Are we adding "wood" to the fire, or are we choosing to speak words that build up and encourage?

When someone begins to speak ill of someone else, we should try to redirect the discussion to something positive or we should refuse to engage in the conversation altogether. By doing this, we are “removing the wood" that would otherwise keep the fire burning.

Just like a fire cannot burn without fuel, conflict cannot continue without gossip. By choosing to speak words that build up rather than tear down, we help extinguish the fires of conflict and create an atmosphere of peace and unity.