2 Thess 3:11+12 We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies. Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the bread they eat. And 1 Tim 1:5-7 But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. For some men, straying from these things, have turned aside to fruitless discussion, wanting to be teachers of the Law, even though they do not understand either what they are saying or the matters about which they make confident assertions. 
	With the New Year, we are in the transition from Paul’s letters to the Thessalonians and into his letter to Timothy. What is interesting is that we end and begin with basically the same admonition of the Apostle Paul. One is to the church itself, and the other is to a pastor overseeing a church or many churches. The concern however is the same.
	If you will recall from our last consideration of 2 Thessalonians, we were looking at the manner in which Paul uses admonition, and the need for admonition. It is one of the means used by God in order to make us realize that something in our life is not pleasing to Him. Please remember that any admonition must be taken before the Lord first and primarily in order to validate it. Then, if we receive the go ahead from God, we are to deliver it with the single purpose of encouraging a willing and loving response to God and to His Word. Admonitions must always be absolutely in line with the Word of God and always lead to a greater establishment of our relationship with God and within the Church. If that is not the purpose, it is not a true and valid admonition. As well, realize, please realize, that we are not the ones to determine whether admonition needs to be applied in any situation. That is and must be completely from the Lord and only after urgent and continuous and loving prayer on the behalf of the Lord’s Glory in the admonished one.
	This is being stressed because, as I indicated, there is an admonition that the Apostle Paul knew he had to deliver for the express purpose of bringing to the forefront of the church’s understanding the destructive nature of gossip, of being a busybody, of fruitlessly discussing things that only distract and destroy. It is absolutely vital to understand that being a gossip, a busybody, is an inherently divisive and destructive undercurrent within a church. Please understand, this is not unique to just the church. Anywhere gossip and busybodies operate, at school, at work, at home, between friends and family, there is nothing but ruin. We are, however, looking at it from the perspective of being God’s people, focused upon Him. As such, we must be constantly on guard against any inclination to seek after, and to spread any false, malicious, and harmful disinformation. We must not participate in slinging slander and spite at our brothers and sisters in the Lord.
	Paul specifically addresses this concern for the welfare of the church later in 1 Timothy 5:13, as he is talking about dealing with members of the church. And at the same time they also learn to be idle, as they go around from house to house; and not merely idle, but also gossips and busybodies, talking about things not proper to mention. …things not proper to mention…. Idle and gossiping. Talking behind other’s backs. Discussing the things that should be diligently and earnestly kept in prayer. Casting forth entrusted concerns and Christian confidences as bits of gossip and slander into the muck and mire of this world. We complain and voice our discontent to others, rather than seeking the Lord’s guidance as to why we allow that discontent to fester in our hearts.
	The Apostle Paul is not alone in this grave concern. The Apostle Peter gives us an indication of the vileness of this gossip as he lists some of the things that cannot be tolerated within the Christian community. 1 Peter 4:15+16 By no means let any of you suffer as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler; but if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not feel ashamed, but in that name let him glorify God. Did you notice? Lumped in with murder, theft, and evil actions is the troublesome meddler. This is such a serious concern, that it is considered in the same sense as a murderer, thief, or evil doer. It is not a small thing unto the Lord because of it’s sadly vial effects within the church. That is why there are so many hard and rigid admonitions against it.
	In Eph 4:1-3, we read I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, entreat you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing forbearance to one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. This is a positive encouragement of building up the church, of heartening the brothers and sisters in Christ. These characteristics are the exact opposite of a busybody or gossip: humility, gentleness, patience, forbearance, love, unity, and peace. 
	Paul continues later in the same chapter, verse 31, Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. He lists the characteristics of a gossip or busybody: bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and slander. These have absolutely no place within the life of a Christian, within the Church created by the Love of God in Christ Jesus. These things are to be put away and not even mentioned in connection with the character of one whose life has been purchased at the inestimable price of the blood of Christ.
	As Paul writes to Titus, in Chapter 3, verses 1+2, concerning the manner in which to deal with the members of the church, Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed, to malign no one, to be uncontentious, gentle, showing every consideration for all men. We are not to malign anyone and nor are we to be in any manner contentious. There is no way that any gossip can or ever will be up building. The entire intent of gossip from one lip to another’s ear is to tear down, to malign and to express discontentment in hope of finding someone else in whom to spread that same contentious attitude.
    	James cuts directly to the very heart of the matter in James 3:5-8, So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. Behold, how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell. For every species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed, and has been tamed by the human race. But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison. James is very specific as to the danger of gossip… it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison. It is truly a toxic poison that works to adulterate one’s mind against another. It will spread its vile corruption until it has devastated all that once was beautiful and pure before the Lord. 
	It is no wonder that God has given numerous admonitions against the evil practice of gossip and slander. Ps 50:16-20, But to the wicked God says, "What right have you to tell of My statutes, And to take My covenant in your mouth? "For you hate discipline, And you cast My words behind you. "When you see a thief, you are pleased with him, And you associate with adulterers. "You let your mouth loose in evil, And your tongue frames deceit. "You sit and speak against your brother; You slander your own mother's son. 
	There is another severe Word of the Lord in Ps 101 verses 5+6, Whoever secretly slanders his neighbor, him I will destroy; No one who has a haughty look and an arrogant heart will I endure. My eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me; He who walks in a blameless way is the one who will minister to me. Notice that the Lord says He will destroy the secret slanderer. He does not take this malicious activity lightly. He stands against it with all His force.
	The prophet Jeremiah realized this as He was given the Word of the Lord as recorded in Jer 9:2-5 O that I had in the desert A wayfarers' lodging place; That I might leave my people, And go from them! For all of them are adulterers, An assembly of treacherous men. "And they bend their tongue like their bow; Lies and not truth prevail in the land; For they proceed from evil to evil, And they do not know Me," declares the Lord. "Let everyone be on guard against his neighbor, And do not trust any brother; Because every brother deals craftily, And every neighbor goes about as a slanderer. "And everyone deceives his neighbor, And does not speak the truth, They have taught their tongue to speak lies; They weary themselves committing iniquity. The course of the slanderer is delineated in this passage. They go from evil to evil. Note, they do not go from bad to worse, the emphasis is that they are already evil and continue in that evil practice and that indicates a lack of the true knowledge of the Lord. One who knows the reality of Christ cannot participate in such activity. Neither can that one condone or turn a blind eye to it. It needs to be recognized for the iniquity that it is and taken before the Lord in contriteness and humility to seek the Lord’s forgiveness. 
	In one more admonition, the Apostle Paul writes the following to the Church in Rome. He is showing what once was true of us, without Christ in our lives. Rom 1:28-32 And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper, being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful; and, although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them. This is quite a list of evil doing and evil intent with gossip and slander listed in the center of it. Thank the Lord that we have been pulled out of that quagmire by His Grace through Jesus Christ. 
	God has given His Word concerning our new position in Him and the manner in which we are now to live in His presence of Holiness. Ps 15:1-3 O Lord, who may abide in Thy tent? Who may dwell on Thy holy hill?  He who walks with integrity, and works righteousness, And speaks truth in his heart. He does not slander with his tongue, Nor does evil to his neighbor, Nor takes up a reproach against his friend…
Because we do dwell in the presence of the Lord, our hearts desire is to walk with integrity and in righteousness. We are the bearers of Truth, of life in Jesus Christ. That is our characteristic of behavior and our manner of dealing with others.
	Again, the Apostle Peter writes, 1 Peter 2:1-3 Therefore, putting aside all malice and all guile and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, like newborn babes, long for the pure milk of the word, that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord. Because we have tasted the kindness of the Lord, we are to grow in that desire for the Word of the Lord to be more and more perfectly reflected in our lives. No, we are not perfect in our flesh, but we are perfect in our spirits before God, in Christ Jesus. In His perfection, we deal with our brothers and sisters in the same love with which we have been loved.
	Peter concludes our consideration of this admonition to not be busybodies and slanderers in 1 Peter 3:8-12, To sum up, let all be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit; not returning evil for evil, or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing. For, "Let him who means to love life and see good days  Refrain his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking guile. "And let him turn away from evil and do good; Let him seek peace and pursue it. "For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, And His ears attend to their prayer, But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil." 
	We have been called to inherit a blessing from God, not a curse. We are blessed to the fullest in Jesus Christ. Sadly, when we become a busybody, when we give ourselves over to gossip and slander, we lose that blessing in our lives. Rather than living in the joy of the Lord, we place ourselves into a prison of resentment and discontentment. Heed this admonition against speaking forth malice with a tongue of poison. As members of Christ’s Body, do not participate in gossip, slander, or spreading discontent and complaints. Rather, encourage one another to leave all that behind and simply follow the Lord as He directs, guides, and blesses. Instead of destroying with gossip and maliciousness, we are to build each other up in the Love of God, in order to bring more and more glory to His name in Jesus Christ.   
We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies. Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the bread they eat…But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. Amen.

We close with our benediction from Rom 15:5-13 Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus; that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Wherefore, accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God. For I say that Christ has become a servant to the circumcision on behalf of the truth of God to confirm the promises given to the fathers, and for the Gentiles to glorify God for His mercy; as it is written,  "Therefore I will give praise to Thee among the Gentiles, And I will sing to Thy name." And again he says, "Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people." And again, "Praise the Lord all you Gentiles, And let all the peoples praise Him." And again Isaiah says, "There shall come the root of Jesse, And He who arises to rule over the Gentiles, In Him shall the Gentiles hope." Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen