The Bible has a lot to say about gossip. But what actually counts as gossip? We talk about our friends all the time. You tell your mom what happened at recess. You ask a friend how another friend is doing. That’s not gossip. That’s just talking.

So where’s the line? Here’s a good test: it becomes gossip when you share something about somebody that they wouldn’t want shared, especially when it makes them look bad and makes you look good. You can also ask yourself: “Would I share this information if that person was standing right next to me listening?” If the answer is no, that’s a pretty big sign it could be gossip.

Proverbs describes it perfectly: “The words of a gossip are like choice morsels.... A gossip separates close friends.... Without a gossip a quarrel dies down.”

“Choice morsels” means a really tasty snack. That’s exactly why gossip is so hard to resist. It feels good to know something nobody else knows. But look at what it actually does. It splits up best friends. It breaks trust. And that last verse says something powerful: without a gossip, the fight just burns out. Sometimes the fastest way to end a conflict is for one person to stop passing the story along.

Take Action: Learn this little rhyme: “Be discreet—don’t repeat!” The next time somebody tells you something juicy about another person, let it stop with you. Don’t pass it on to anyone. If you can do it kindly, change the subject or say something good about the person instead.