Wednesday, September 17, 2025

New Testament Reading Plan: 1 Corinthians 13

Relationships are messy.

We are quite good at hurting each other, both intentionally and unintentionally. Our feelings, while real, are often terrible instructors. If allowed to dictate our actions, our feelings will lead us into behaviors that damage or destroy relationships.

Unfortunately, we are also very good at finding fault in others while excusing our own shortcomings. We want others to share our perspectives, so we shroud our observations in language that appears honorable, but in reality, it’s gossip.

Dictonary.com defines gossip as “idle talk or rumor, especially about the personal or private affairs of others.” The intent of gossip is to bring the private affairs of another person into the light. Rather than building others up, it’s intended to cast doubt on their character.

When we gossip, our intentions are to hurt and discredit the other person - because it’s satisfying when someone who hurt us looks bad in the eyes of another. However, that does nothing to restore a relationship that has been damaged.

The author of Hebrews writes that when we allow bitterness to grow in our hearts, it damages more than just the other person.

Hebrews 12:15
Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many.

Often, after experiencing hurt, we allow a seed of bitterness to sprout. It starts small, but left unchecked, it grows. Gossip is like fertilizer, feeding the roots that become entwined in our hearts. Before we know it, the bitterness fills our hearts with disdain, further severing a relationship with someone we once loved.

While gossip feels natural, Jesus calls us to a better way. By approaching hurtful situations the way Jesus commands in Matthew 18:15-20, we allow him to be present in our interactions.

Jesus tells us to seek out the offending person and to humbly, graciously, and directly tell them how we feel. This allows us to get directly to the root of the issue, giving the other person the benefit of the doubt and allowing them to correct any misunderstandings we may have made.

We have to say goodbye to making assumptions and gossiping to embrace opportunities for forgiveness and restoration, which should be our ultimate relationship goals.

Questions:
Have you ever been the victim of gossip? Have you ever been the one doing the gossiping?

How was your relationship impacted by those interactions?

Next Steps:
Read Matthew 18:15-20.

Confess to those you have hurt through gossip and ask for forgiveness for the ways your words have hurt them. When tempted to retaliate with gossip, stop and bring your hurts directly to the person who hurt you.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank you for the gift of forgiveness. Forgive me for using my words to hurt instead of for restoration. Help me to address my hurts directly to those who hurt me instead of trying to return the hurt. Heal the relationships that I have broken because of my words and actions. Keep bitterness from taking root in my heart. Amen.

Series Theme Verse:

Romans 12:17-18
Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.

This post was written by Julie Mabus, a Whitehouse attendee, and a regular contributor to the Daily LivingItOut.