1 Thessalonians 4:9-12 – “But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; 10 and indeed you do so toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, that you increase more and more; 11 that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, 12 that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing.”  NKJV

I have dealt with people all my life including my Christian life who were busybodies, self-ordained fruit inspectors and incredibly nosey.  They always had a word of advice and felt the need to meddle in other people’s affairs.  They could never understand why other’s viewed them as meddlesome.  They genuinely believed it was their duty to set others straight, put in their two-cents and comment on virtually everything.  They failed in the directive of Paul in the above passage to “mind their own business.” 

There is an old country song by Hank Williams entitled, “Mind Your Own Business” and in the lyrics is the suggestion, “Why don’t you mind your own business ’cause if you mind your business, then you won’t be mindin’ mine.”  Good advice and biblical.  The writer of Proverbs captures it perfectly saying, “He who passes by and meddles in a quarrel not his own is like one who takes a dog by the ears.”  (26:17). Then a few verses further he says, “Where there is no wood, the fire goes out; and where there is no talebearer, strife ceases.”  (26:20). Peter speaks to this issue saying, “But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters.”  (1 Peter 4:15). Imagine lumping meddling in the same category of murder, theft and general evil doing.  That suggests that God considers it an important activity to cease from.

Even if your observation is accurate and your counsel correct if it is unsolicited it can easily become a source of contention.  Rather than making the matter better or resolving the issue it may aggravate it.  Although we are not islands and it is a valid biblical principle to warn the wicked to turn from wickedness and to warn of danger it is also biblical to mind your own business.  If it is not ‘life or death’ we should walk very carefully before grabbing the dog by the ears and meddling.  I have observed parents of grown children meddle in the lives and affairs of their children and the result is usually negative.  Sometimes, in matters not life or death, a person needs to make their own mistakes and learn from them without someone attempting to coerce them toward a particular decision or action.  Most of us resent or resist when someone is perceived to be meddling in our affairs.  A principle of Scripture comes to mind, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”  

I have found that I have enough issues to deal with in my own life that adding the weight of the problems or perceived problems of others is more than I can or need to bear.  If the Holy Spirit truly directs us to intervene or offer our ‘wisdom’ He will also provide an appropriate opportunity.  If we charge in like a bull in a china shop to right the wrongs and save the day we will likely be viewed negatively and our counsel however wise will fall on deaf ears and possibly harden the heart.  It is always appropriate to take the matter to prayer.  When I find something in another that I perceive as error and in need of wise counsel, I pray.  In my prayer I ask God to bring into the pathway of that individual events and things that will cause them to either seek advice or alter their direction.  In those times when, after prayer, a person asks my opinion or counsel I feel completely free and frequently will find them receptive and open to a view they had not before seen.  I never want to be meddlesome or a busybody.  If I am busy minding my business I have little time to mind yours.

            God bless you as you go through this day!