The test of three!
From time to time most of us get caught up with gossip and rumours
Why do people get involved in gossip and rumours?
People get involved in gossip and rumours for many reasons perhaps such as to feel superior, for attention, out of envy and out of anger or unhappiness.
Why? Some people like to feel superior or want to be noticed generally don’t feel good about themselves and feel better when they put others down. In other words their self-esteem is low and by getting involved in worthless conversations they feel they have a place or position with others. However they also do it for attention because they will for a short time be the centre of attention. Furthermore they may do it out of anger or because they are unhappy, they might feel a sense of power out of seeing others suffer. That is why people get involved in gossip, rumours and slander.
So to the test of three it’s vital that you grasp this principle and apply it to worthless conversations.
To begin with we have to go back to ancient Greece (469 – 399 BC), Socrates was widely lauded for his wisdom.
One day the great philosopher came upon an acquaintance, who ran up to him excitedly and said, “Socrates, do you know what I just heard about one of your students?”
“Wait a moment,” Socrates replied. “Before you tell me, I’d like you to pass a little test. It’s called the Test of Three.”
“Test of Three?”
“That’s correct,” Socrates continued. “Before you talk to me about my student let’s take a moment to test what you’re going to say. The first test is Truth. Have you made absolutely sure that what you are about to tell me is true?”
“No,” the man replied, “actually I just heard about it.”
“All right,” said Socrates. “So you don’t really know if it’s true or not. Now let’s try the second test, the test of Goodness. Is what you are about to tell me about my student something good?”
“No, on the contrary…”
“So,” Socrates continued, “you want to tell me something bad about him even though you’re not certain it’s true?”
The man shrugged, a little embarrassed.
Socrates continued, “You may still pass though because there is a third test – the filter of Usefulness. Is what you want to tell me about my student going to be useful to me?”
“No, not really…”
“Well,” concluded Socrates, “if what you want to tell me is neither true nor good nor even useful, why tell it to me at all?”
The man was defeated and ashamed and said no more…
REMEMBER ~ when people are spreading gossip or rumours ask yourself first:
Is it TRUE ~ Is it GOOD and Is it USEFUL
Finally what’s the point in all this; well simply applying the test of three will keep you calm, it will also help you to keep your emotional response in check. On the relationship side it will stop you from becoming an untrustworthy person; it will help others to see you are a person of principle and someone they can rely on because YOU DON’T get involved in spreading gossip and rumours.
More importantly, God’s word lights up the path ahead. Clearly it tells us to avoid at all anyone in gossip and talking too much. Look at the second verse clearly its one of the things the Lord hates us to look, let our tongue loose on others and those who try and get their own back on another v18.
Prov 20v19 (NIV). A gossip betrays a confidence; so avoid anyone who talks too much.
Proverbs 6:16-19 (NIV) 16 There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: 17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, 18 a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, 19 a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community. Well, I hope this blog has been useful to you and helped you to re evaluate your walk with God and improve you as a person.
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