Everywhere I go, I overhear people talking about other people. I hear people talking about their co-workers, their boss, their spouse, their kids, some crazy person that cut them off in traffic, some person at the hair salon that was rude or just strange, etc. It’s an incredible fascination isn’t it?
We just love talking about other people. I’m not just talking about the G word… “Gossip”. A lot of what we say about others IS gossip, but I’m really just drawing attention to our desire to talk about OTHER people. I guess it’s just part of our human DNA. We’re relational beings…and so we talk about the people we relate with.
We just love talking about other people. I’m not just talking about the G word… “Gossip”. A lot of what we say about others IS gossip, but I’m really just drawing attention to our desire to talk about OTHER people. I guess it’s just part of our human DNA. We’re relational beings…and so we talk about the people we relate with.
Is This a Problem?
So, is this somehow a problem? Maybe yes. Maybe no. Gossiping is wrong for a lot of reasons you are already familiar with. If you aren’t part of the problem or solution, it’s likely none of your business, right? But what about the casual conversation where we are just people watching and then talking about it to our friends? I don’t see a big problem with it. But I do have one concern.
My concern is that we spend SO MUCH time focused on other people, it causes us to take the focus off of the one person we can change…US.
Where is Your Focus?
My concern is that we spend SO MUCH time focused on other people, it causes us to take the focus off of the one person we can change…US. I can talk about someone else’s bad attitude until I’m blue in the face. But it’s MY attitude that I can change.
As Christians, we have to be careful here. I can talk about how “ungodly” someone else is, or I can focus on ME being more godly in my thoughts and actions. I can focus on other people’s sin or I can join the Holy Spirit in working on my own sin.
Let’s face it. It’s just plain easier to focus on everyone else. It’s also a lot less productive or positive. It has zero benefits, other than it gives us an excuse to not pay much attention to our own actions.
Next Time…
So, the next time you catch yourself talking about someone else, ask yourself: How do I need to change? What should I be doing differently? How could I be improving this situation? Then pray to God for help and then do it. Other people will continue doing the talking for you, and in fact they will probably be talking about you now. Let them….then get to work on yourself.
If we stopped focusing on other people and started focusing on growing and changing ourselves, just imagine how drastically this world would change.
I really agree with this statement above as fact. I guess I just never really thought about it in that sense. I at times will come home and tell my family what has happened at work that day. Then later on thinking of how much time I have just wasted when I most likely could be getting more down around the house to help my family instead of worrying about some things that may have happened that are no longer relevant. What is done is done. You can not go back and redo it or change anything so why let it even bother you when you know what others say is not even true?…..when it comes down to it, it is truly not even worth it.
Well written. Simple but message is clear. Spend time and learn to live with in.. this will radiate outwards!