Just Because It’s True Doesn’t Mean You Should Say It
Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; and deceive not with thy lips. -Proverbs 24:28 (KJV)
Your neighbor already carries their own burdens. They don’t need you adding to them with whispers and stories, even if those stories are true. Just because you can say something doesn’t mean you should. If it bothers you that badly, go knock on their door and talk about it face to face. But most of the time, that won’t happen—because people who love to gossip often love the chaos it stirs.
It’s not that anything actually bothers them—they just pretend it does so they can stir things up. If it truly troubled them, they’d be seeking peace and resolution, not spreading drama and adding fuel to the fire.
Some folks can’t even drive by their neighbor’s house without letting something negative slip from their lips. And sometimes, what they say may even be factually accurate—but gossip has a way of disguising itself as “truth.” It’s not always about what we say, but why and how we say it.
As children of God, we are called to something better. We’re called to mind our own business unless we are genuinely asked to help. And even then, once we’ve helped, the matter shouldn’t be passed around in conversation. God’s Word also tells us:
“He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.” — Proverbs 17:9 (KJV)
We don’t love by exposing others—we love by protecting them. Silence, sometimes, is the most loving choice we can make.
Reflective Questions:
• Have I ever shared something about someone just to see the reaction?
• How did I feel afterward?
• What does my speech reveal about the condition of my heart?
Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father, I come before You in the name of Jesus and ask for forgiveness for anything I’ve ever said about someone that was unkind, unnecessary, or harmful. Help me recognize when my words cross the line. Teach me to be quiet when silence is love, and to speak only when it builds up rather than tears down—even if the information I have is true. Fill my heart with wisdom, restraint, and compassion. In Jesus name, Amen.
Thank you for reading. God bless you!
All Scripture in Steps Towards Eternity Daily Devotional is from the King James Bible. (KJV)
Scriptures marked KJV are taken from the KING JAMES VERSION (KJV): KING JAMES VERSION, public domain in The United States. Pathway365 is based in the United States and is governed by its laws. Outside of the United States, you’ll need to check the copyright laws in your country before use.
Scripture quotations from The Authorized (King James) Version. Rights in the Authorized Version in the United Kingdom are vested in the Crown. Reproduced by permission of the Crown’s patentee, Cambridge University Press