STICK YOUR NOSE IN GOD'S BUSINESS, NOT OTHERS

Have you ever thought of a majority of life's problems stem from sticking your nose in others business? No really, think about it. Why do we have to know everything?  If we are not careful, for those of us on Facebook, it can get to be an addiction to see what all of our friends are doing then to feel left out if we are not included. The idea is people need to keep their noses in life in their own business.2 Thessalonians 3:11 says "We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies." 1 Timothy 5:13 says "Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying things they ought not to."

Sometimes when we meddle we also end up standing in judgment over someone. That is not our job. We are not God. Matthew 7:3-5 "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?  How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?  You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye."

 I have a better idea. Instead of wondering what celebrities are doing and turning on the news each night or reading the paper first thing each day  or bugging our adult children or reading about what all your friends are doing, why not get into 'God's Business' ,which would be reading the Bible. If we spent more time in the word of God and less doing the other things we waste our time on we would have less heartache and problems in life. Let's make a point to 'pry' into God's life and not others lives or at least exercise some self control over it. You will really get much more out of it and have less things to worry about if you try this new technique. And it will no doubt produce a closer relationship with your loved ones in the long run.

True peace comes when you keep your mind on your own affairs and not be thinking you have to be privy to the details of others lives. Do you want peace and true joy? Then try letting go of your need to know it all and try to focus on knowing more about God.

1 Thessalonians 4:11 says "Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you." When you meddle and find out things you should not have known anyway it can breed quarrels. Proverbs 17:14 says "Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam; so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out." To stop a matter keep your nose in your own business. 1 Peter 4:15 says "If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler." A meddler is listed there as not a good thing mentioned alongside a criminal and thief.

Try to focus on God and His business. Philippians 1:27 says "Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel." Your desire should be for seeking God with your whole heart. Philippians 3:10 says "I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death". If you could make that your life's desire to know Him just imagine how your life would change. If you could focus on Him and not all your worries and concerns life would be much better.

Sometimes being nosy can separate friends or family members. Better to live life and keep your nose in your own business. If someone needs you to know something they will tell you. For sure this is a discipline especially for those with inquiring minds. You know the tabloid commercial that says "Inquiring Minds Want To Know! I Want to Know!" Well trust me you do not always need to know. Trust God to reveal things to you in His time.

PRAYER: Lord God I want to know you better. When I get into the habit of thinking I need to know more of what is going on around me and tend to lean on nosy side help me to run to you and your word and focus on the truths in the Bible. In Jesus Name. Amen.
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MEDDLE? WHO ME? NOT!!!

Do you like to know everything? Women have a tendency to want to know things. That is probably why talk shows abound on daytime television and movie star magazines fly off bookstore shelves. It is a spiritual discipline to not be nosy and to not think you have to be privy to every tidbit of info that 'comes down the pike' so to speak.

If you have adult children you need to learn to back off and not be snooping into every detail of their life especially if they are married. Facebook does not help as it is tempting to delve in there and see it all and be a 'stalker',  as some children affectionately like to call it. A Wall Street Journal article a while back had a headline that read something like "The Helicopter Moms Are Hovering on Facebook". This is why it is important to probably not put everything out there for all to see. As for Facebook, my rule is to let 'young people' friend me and not other way around. As one of my sons kindly reminded me, "they are my friends mom, not yours". Good point, don't you think?

So what does the Bible have to say about all this?  In this so called mission of 'information seeking' or meddling of sorts, we could have a tendency to  comment on things we see. Better the less said the better. In Proverbs 10:19 it says"when  there are many words, transgression is unavoidable, But he who restrains his lips is wise."  Best to move on. Why do we feel compelled to know it all? You heard the saying from one well known gossip paper which said 'inquiring minds want to know. I want to know!'

James 1:19 might be a good verse to also have in your arsenal if you feel like commenting and it says " My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,". This verse can help out in so many areas of life but can pertain to trying to be nosy as well. Few people enjoy being "put on the witness stand" so to speak.

In the 1963 movie, Alfred Hitchcock's 'The Birds', actor Rod Taylor, said to his characters mother in the film when she was asking(prying) way too many questions about the character played by Tippi  Hedren whom Taylor had taken a liking too, "since when did you get your law degree mother?" In other words, with all due respect 'back off mom'!

Proverbs 17:27 says " A man of knowledge uses words with restraint, and a man of understanding is even-tempered." Ecclesiastes 5:3 says " As a dream comes when there are many cares, so the speech of a fool when there are many words."

The Bible does mention busybodies, which is a person who just likes to snoop. I urge all readers to ask themselves why they really need to know some things. Life will go on without details. 1 Timothy 5:13 refers to busybodies. It is not just women who are nosy, although typically we do like to know more. Just relax and be a friend, be a mom, be a dad and let God orchestrate and direct your conversation.

Psalm 19:14 says "May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer."

PRAYER: Lord I desire to be known as one who does not snoop and pry. Help me Lord to let you guide my conversation and may it bring glory and honor to you. In Jesus name. Amen!

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