Left with God

“Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.”

—Psalm 37:5–6 ESV

Due to poor health, a young Thomas Spurgeon (1856–1917) sailed to Melbourne, Australia with the intention to set up an engraving business.  Once there, however, the name Spurgeon opened doors of ministry that he could not ignore. “Young Spurgeon does not possess the fire and dash of his father,” one newspaper reported, “but he has much originality, humor, and force.” Wherever he preached, he drew great crowds. Some came to criticize and compare, but many went away convicted. 

     About this time Thomas was falsely accused of conduct unbecoming to a minister. “Whether it was the tongue of slander in the old land, or some misinformation or mistake, I do not know,” he once said. “But there came to my dear father’s ears a story which did not reflect credit upon his absent son. It came in such a form that he was almost bound to believe it.” (We wonder whether or not Charles H. Spurgeon remembered the slander that had been spread about him in early years.) “I left the matter with God,” said Thomas, “and He espoused my cause.” In a few days his father cabled: “Disregard my letter; was misinformed.”

     As the true story above illustrates, gossip is not benign. It is bad—extremely bad—because it hurts people. In most cases, it hurts both the person who speaks it and the person who is being spoken about. Even if the details are true and we are trying to “help,” gossip should be avoided at all costs. Research has shown that younger people gossip more than older people. Could this be that we learn the harmful consequences of gossip as we get older and mature? I must confess that over the years I have learned that gossip destroys relationships, dismantles friendships, and stalls spiritual growth. If you are the victim of gossip I sympathize with you and am sorry that you are hurt. Pray for God to heal your wounded spirit and to help you discern if any action is required. Addressing gossip often exacerbates the problem and makes it grow like wildfire. Other times gossip needs to be addressed and stopped. But, whenever possible, it’s best to just leave the matter with God; pray to the Lord and from His presence let your vindication come (see Psalm 17:1–2).