Biblical Wisdom on Friendship, Forgiveness, and Overcoming Rumors
“He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends. -”Proverbs 17:9 (KJV)
Our walk with Christ is a transformative journey. It begins when we seek forgiveness through Jesus, and along the way, we will find ourselves seeking forgiveness many times as the Holy Spirit convicts us. Yet one thing remains certain: the love of Christ keeps no record of our wrongs. However, in life, we sometimes encounter people who remind us of our past mistakes—things we’ve moved beyond and no longer define us. We may meet individuals, or even have family members, who take snippets of our lives and spread them around town as if they were gospel truth. Some people take these rumors to heart, choosing to distance themselves from us or even declaring to others that we are no longer friends. The truth is, if someone can hear something about us and it leads them to “unfriend” us—whether in our community or on social media—they were never truly our friends to begin with.
The gossiper always reflects their audience.
“A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.” – Proverbs 17:4 (KJV)
Then there are our true friends, who may hear something negative about us yet choose to rebuke the person spreading the gossip. Because they know who we are, they don’t easily believe every word they hear. If they need clarification on a matter, they know they can reach out to us and talk anytime they want. Most of the time, though, they understand—as we do—not to get caught up in the drama of “he said, she said.”
“He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips. -”Proverbs 20:19 (KJV)
Reflective Questions:
- How do I respond when I hear rumors about someone I care about? Do I seek the truth or let gossip shape my view?
- In what ways can I show the love of Christ by covering others’ transgressions instead of exposing them?
- Who in my life reflects the loyalty of a true friend, and how can I express gratitude for them?
- Am I ever tempted to listen to or spread gossip? How can I ask the Holy Spirit to guide me away from that?
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank You for Your boundless love that keeps no record of our wrongs. Help us to walk in that same love, covering transgressions and building others up instead of tearing them down. Give us discernment to recognize true friends who reflect Your heart and wisdom to turn away from the flattery of talebearers. May our words and actions honor You, bringing peace and unity rather than division. 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