Proverbs 20:19 (AMP):
19 He who goes about as a gossip reveals secrets; therefore do not associate with a gossip [who talks freely or flatters].
In ancient Greece, Dr. Socrates, an intellectual and scholar, was reputed to hold knowledge in high esteem. One day, an acquaintance of his met with the great philosopher and said, “Do you know what I just heard about one of your friends?” “Hold on a minute,” Dr. Socrates replied. “Before telling me anything, I’d like you to pass a little test. It’s called the Triple Filter Test.” “Triple Filter?” asked the man. “That’s right,” Dr. Socrates continued.
“Before you talk to me about my friend, it might be a good idea to take a moment and filter what you’re going to say. That’s why I call it the Triple Filter Test. The first filter is truth. Have you made absolutely sure that what you are about to tell me is true?” “No,” the man said, “actually I just heard about it and wanted to tell it to you.” “All right,” said Socrates.
“So you don’t really know if it’s true or not. Now let’s try the second filter, the filter of Goodness. Is what you are about to tell me about my friend something good?” “No, on the contrary, it is bad.”
“So,” Socrates continued, “you want to tell me something bad about him, but you’re not certain it’s true. You may still pass the test though because there’s one filter left: the filter of Usefulness. Is what you want to tell me about my friend going to be useful to me?” “No, not really,” replied the man.
“Well,” concluded Dr. Socrates, “if what you want to tell me is neither true, nor good, nor even useful to me, why tell it to me at all?”
When considering the reports of others, always question these three things:
Is it true, without a shadow of doubt, or an opinion?
Will it be good for others?
Will it be useful to me?
Prayer:
Father God, help me not to gossip or be a talebearer. Give me the wisdom to know when to speak and when to be quiet, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Except from: 60 Prayers in 60 Seconds, Page 52.
