Introductory Thoughts
Men often separate sins into categories of what they consider big and little sins. Murder and adultery are often classified as big sins, while little sins might include things like pride, “white” lies, or backbiting. Yet a closer look at Romans chapter 1 suggests that God’s viewpoint of sin varies greatly from ours. According to the scripture, a person given over to a reprobate mind is capable of all of these sins. Furthermore, the passage tells us that those “which commit such things are worthy of death” (Romans 1:32). Imagine that! The Lord views backbiting as a sin just as wicked and vile as murder. Not only does the Lord find the backbiter guilty, but also judges those who “have pleasure in them” that do the backbiting and other such sins.
Devotional Thoughts
-
(For children): David wanted his words to be acceptable in God's sight (Psalm 19:14). However, harming an individual with our words is not acceptable to God. Backbiting is as serious to the Lord as physically harming someone or disobeying our parents.
-
(For everyone): How much do you think God hates backbiting? Do you think He is just as angry with us when we listen to backbiting as He is when we are guilty of doing the actual backbiting?
-
Would you have thought that God would list backbiting with murder, fornication, and hating Him? Does this reflect the importance of avoiding this wicked sin?
Prayer Thoughts
- Ask the Lord to give you the same hatred for backbiting that He has.
- Ask God to help you find no pleasure in saying or listening to harmful words.
Song
WHAT THEN, SHALL CHRISTIANS SIN
