When SHARING isn’t necessarily CARING

#FiveMinuteFriday and the word prompt is SHARE. Today’s is a tough subject and I am preaching to ME! You all are welcome to listen in…

This isn’t just about gossip, although gossip is a huge problem.

This isn’t just about talking about our friends, family, co-workers, etc., but that is wrong too. We all are guilty.

I’m not just touching on the subject of “Oh, let me tell you about ‘Jim and Judy’ so you can ‘pray’ for them…”, when the time spent telling the prayer request could have been spent actually praying. Ouch.

I have been convicted over the time I have spent talking about needs or faults, and that time gets carried away and turns into counseling sessions where I think I can solve the other person’s problems…and they aren’t even there to benefit from my newly discovered knowledge.

The Lord reminded me of several things on the subject: “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.” 1 Corinthians 10:12 NKJV. Meaning it could very easily be ME that needs the help the next time. It could be ME that my friends are talking about next. Take heed! Be careful who you are talking about this week…or as the saying goes that we see so much of lately…

And this gem:

“Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” Philippians 4:5,6 NKJV.

Your gentleness. That seems Christ-like.  WWJD?

He would show mercy. He wouldn’t run and tell others. He would go straight to the one with the NEED. The one who had the problem. He would offer a helping hand.

What can we DO for them instead of talk about them? We can pray, make our requests known to God. Show them kindness, gentleness, love and extend mercy.

And if appropriate and necessary, go a step further:

  • Do they need assistance?
  • Do they need physical substance?
  • If the need is obvious, fill it!
  • If you aren’t sure, listen and let God tell you what to do.

The more I pray for the needs, and even sins, of my family, friends, co-workers and brothers and sisters in Christ, the less time I will have to pry and gossip.

I think HE will be more pleased with ME.

Be blessed.

Kingdom2

41 thoughts on “When SHARING isn’t necessarily CARING

  1. Nannette Post author

    Ha, I thought my first reply didn’t send so I tried again. 🙂

  2. Nannette Post author

    Wonderful thought! One plants, one waters but God gives the increase. So glad it is all in His hands and praying I don’t try to interfere with His plan. Thank you for stopping by!

  3. Nannette Post author

    Love how you said we must not “play Holy Spirit”. We plant the seed, someone else waters but GOD gives the increase! Wonderful thought!

  4. Nannette Post author

    Thank you for stopping by, Andrew. Most of my posts are written to stubborn ole me…hoping I catch on someday. 🙂
    You are in my prayers!

  5. Debbie

    Sometimes, it can be tempting to solve others problems. I’ve been guilty of that too. But simply praying may be the best thing. However, if there is a need and we can lend a hand, I believe that’s different. But we must not play Holy Spirit. Instead, allow God to work in their lives. I’m just amazed that He allows us to participate with our prayers. A beautiful post to remind me.

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  12. Candace Jo Post author

    Thank you, Misty. Please excuse my absence of late…I hope to be back in the swing of things soon! Blessings!

  13. Candace Jo Post author

    Blessings, friend. Thank you for stopping by. ♥

  14. Candace Jo Post author

    That’s me, Sharon!! 🙁

  15. Misty

    This is something that has been on my heart lately too.. a reminder I needed.

    Blessings,
    Misty

  16. Candace Jo Post author

    Thank you for the story, Hazel. Such wise words. God does know it better than we do…He just wants us to pray.

  17. Candace Jo Post author

    Turning it over to Him, amen! Thanks, Holly.

  18. Candace Jo Post author

    Never share without permission. So wise, friend. I was definitely preaching that message to myself 🙂 I am glad others found it helpful too! ♥

  19. Candace Jo Post author

    Amen, Kathryn! Lord, help us to keep perspective and then to actually PRAY. ♥

  20. Candace Jo Post author

    Me too, Stephanie. I am guilty. With God’s help we can do better. ♥

  21. Candace Jo Post author

    I am so sorry you have been hurt, friend. Betrayal is the worst kind of hurt, isn’t it? Praying for you today that God would heal that hurt and bring restoration. In Jesus’ name.

  22. Candace Jo Post author

    What a great rule…never thought of it like that but probably should! I need help with that unruly member too 🙁 In Jesus’ name! Blessings ♥

  23. Candace Jo Post author

    You made me laugh Cindy 🙂 Thank you for stopping by, friend.

  24. Candace Jo Post author

    Excellent way to look at it Miranda! Thank you.

  25. Candace Jo Post author

    Blessings, Helen, so happy to have you. God always knows what we need. ♥

  26. Hazel Moon

    Thank you for sharing your inspiring and challenging post with us here at “Tell Me a Story.”

  27. Hazel Moon

    Years ago, a leader in our church did the very thing you mentioned – Please pray for so and so about and then came the gossip. I learned a lesson from that to only get names and not much else when asked to pray for someone. God knows the situation better than we all do, but He does want us to lift up our brothers and sisters in prayer for the sake of agreement.

  28. Holly Barrett

    Ouch! You are speaking right into where many of us get into trouble, Nannette! Thanks for your loving encouragement to simply turn things over to the One who can really make a difference. Love having you link up at Testimony Tuesday.

  29. joanneviola

    Nannette, what a timely post! Just yesterday I had a phone conversation with someone on this very topic. We do not need to share the needs of others under the guise of asking others to pray. We must learn to hold the needs of others which are shared to us close to ourselves. Whenever someone tells me a need, I always ask, “Is it OK to share this with ….(the person I feel should know so to pray)? I never share without permission. There is much wisdom in this post for us all to glean. The time spent talking about the need would be so better invested AND yield a much better return, if we spent it in prayer. You have preached an entire message for us all to learn 🙂 Blessings!

  30. Kathryn Shirey

    What truth this is! How often do we spend more time and energy on the nature of the prayer request rather than actual in prayer for the prayer request.

  31. Stephanie

    Such a strong post and great reminder! It’s embarrassing to think about how many times I have discussed prayer request with people and then not actually followed it up with prayer!

  32. theresnoplacelikehome05

    Thank you for sharing this post. I have been someone who has been gossiped about and have been hurt deeply. The wounds are deep because it’s a form of betrayal. If everyone shared your conviction, than we would see more healing and helping through heartfelt prayer.

  33. Sharon

    It is all too easy to get caught up in disguising gossip with the much-holier prayer request reason. I think we women are more prone to this. I really like that the policy in our ladies’ Bible study is that we cannot share a prayer request without the permission of the person/people we are asking prayer for. It’s a good rule.

    Now, if I could figure out how to keep my mouth shut when talking to friends or family about other people when maybe I really shouldn’t.

    Taming the tongue – always a challenge.

    GOD BLESS!

  34. Cindy

    You hit the nail on the head…mine! Like I just had a V-8 moment…perfectly said Nannette.
    Thanks so much for sharing at MAMZE ME MONDAY…
    Blessings,
    Cindy

  35. Miranda

    Very good reminder. I always think, would I want my friends sitting around discussing my problems? NO! So I need to show them the same courtesy I would want extended to me. Thanks for the reminder!
    -Miranda at http://rahabtoriches.com/

  36. Helen

    Wow. That hit me hard and was just what I needed to hear. Thanks!

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