Twenty-five-year-old Radhika Yadav, a tennis national champion who was running a tennis academy, was shot by his father while she was cooking. Forty-nine-year-old Deepak Yadav said he was hurt, his dignity wounded. He said, “When I used to go to the village to get milk, people used to taunt me, saying that I live off my daughter’s earnings.” He asked Radhika to shut down the academy, which she refused. (NDTV 11 July 2025) The Ten Commandments forbid murder. (Exodus 20:13)
Gossip and taunts: In one of the epics, the hero comes back victorious, bringing back his wife, who was kidnapped by an enemy king. However, the washermen were gossiping about the hero’s wife. This affected the hero, and his attitude drove his wife to be swallowed by the earth. The Bible teaches that gossip separates friends, ruins relationships, damages reputation, and is a deadly poison that destroys. (Proverbs 16:28; James 3:6-8)
Donkey carriers: An old father and a teenage son were leading a donkey through a few villages. The first village people gossiped about them as fools for not using the donkey to ride. In the second village, the father rode the donkey while the teenager walked beside. The villagers said the father was so selfish and did not allow his teenage son to ride. In the third village, the son rode and the father walked. They commented on how heartless the son was to allow the old father to walk. In the fourth village, both sat on the donkey. The villagers said that the father and son duo were merciless towards the donkey. In the fifth village, the father and son duo were carrying the donkey. Those who show interest in gossip, whispers, and rumours will end up like the donkey carriers.
Misconception: The villagers were taunting the father, stating that he was living on the income of his daughter. Culture and traditions make certain normal, legitimate things dishonor and shame. At the same time, ignore sins that oppress others.
Do I please God instead of striving to please people?