Minding our own business

Via dolarossa

Via dolarossa

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The bible says we should work with our hands and mind our own business.

How would you interpret this? What would be involved?

I don’t like busybodies( except I do ask people things but not to interfere but in order to keep up with their lives and share and fellowship and such.
but I do think asking people why they do the things they do is busy-bodying or that if they have proved to be destructive in the past when asking something personal then we should not share.

I think what I am looking for here is a greater perspective on what meddling in other peoples business is and at what point is classed as over stretching the mark.

I’m sure no one would say helping someone in the street if they fell was wrong and we should have minded our own business.
I don’t want this to be about government interference as that’s too big a topic yet.
Just about individual meddling.

Thanks.
 
I have a busybody school accountant who's always asking me what I'm doing in the school library and what I'm spending things on its annoying. Her job is to count the money and bookkeep, not dictate what I spend it on or question me doing my job.

Today, she irritated me when I went to put spent flowers as mulch for the flower bed outside. Why not put it in the bin?
I'm like it will rot down.

She's like that with all the staff. grr!

Apparently one school receptionist would interrogate anybody with where they were going all the time. Thankfully she left and the receptionists that are there now are pretty chill.

I don't question or interfere with others doing their job. Unless they ask for my advice.
If I'm asking a question, it's because I want to find out something, or I need help myself, not questioning someone else's practices.
 
Via dolarossa said:
I think what I am looking for here is a greater perspective on what meddling in other peoples business is and at what point is classed as over stretching the mark.
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Dear Via dolarossa, good question, here is my perspective.

On when to “help”, a teacher of mine once advised, “Help only when asked.”

As I see it, generally any unsolicited advice, interference or “help” can be considered meddling. And meddling is seldom welcome no matter how sincerely helpful the intentions of the meddler are and so it is ultimately corrosive in working and personal relationships.

There are exceptions, such as helping someone after an accident, proffering assistance in an emergency or preserving safety, but these circumstances are obvious and apparent and are expressions of sincere concern and usually not seen as passive aggressive attempts at control… which is meddling.

God bless you and all those you love.
 
Suggestions can sometimes be misinterpreted as meddling.
eg. I got mailed some newletters from the local arts centre, and thought I would fwd it on to the arts teacher who could better make use of it. I then suggested maybe the old unsused classroom could be used as an arts actviity centre for the children during lunchtimes and play times.

I don't mind if she cannot use it, I also get fwd things to do with books that get sent to the school because I'm the librarian. I can't always use the books or donations. But when the principals heard about my idea they blew their top and said I wasn't to suggest anything. I just think they don't like me having 'big ideas' .

Possibly because they don't have any, but think only their ideas would work, when they don't have to work with the children every day. I don't see them do it. Yes they deal with angry parents a lot, but thats because their children aren't really learning in school and they need to address that. It may be because of reasons outside the school, but if it's actually because of school, they need to address it, and they must do that by supporting the teachers to enable them to teach and do their jobs!
 
Via dolarossa said:
The bible says we should work with our hands and mind our own business. How would you interpret this? What would be involved? I don’t like busybodies( except I do ask people things but not to interfere but in order to keep up with their lives and share and fellowship and such.
but I do think asking people why they do the things they do is busy-bodying or that if they have proved to be destructive in the past when asking something personal then we should not share. I think what I am looking for here is a greater perspective on what meddling in other peoples business is and at what point is classed as over stretching the mark. I’m sure no one would say helping someone in the street if they fell was wrong and we should have minded our own business. I don’t want this to be about government interference as that’s too big a topic yet. Just about individual meddling.
Thanks.
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Hello Via;

You're asking a great question. Minding our own business is Biblical when we study this passage in a positive context.

God always has an assignment for each follower of Christ. Many of those assignments is people. Sharing Christ and listening when others share their lives is not minding, meddling or prying in their business, but instead knowing how we can pray and encourage them.

When we pry, "if you are a Christian, then why do you do that?" is meddling in other's business. When we pry into other's affairs things they don't want to share is a "cousin" to gossip and rumors which is corruption of the tongue. Corruption of the tongue can produce anger.

This is why we pray asking God to keep our communication wholesome and profitable. Ephesians 4:29 teaches us, 29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.

Each day we must also pray for whoever crosses our path to communicate effectively that will bring glory to God.

In James 1:19, 19 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;

God bless you, Via, and thank you for sharing yet another good topic for discussion and growing.
 
bobinfaith said:
Hello Via;

You're asking a great question. Minding our own business is Biblical when we study this passage in a positive context.

God always has an assignment for each follower of Christ. Many of those assignments is people. Sharing Christ and listening when others share their lives is not minding, meddling or prying in their business, but instead knowing how we can pray and encourage them.

When we pry, "if you are a Christian, then why do you do that?" is meddling in other's business. When we pry into other's affairs things they don't want to share is a "cousin" to gossip and rumors which is corruption of the tongue. Corruption of the tongue can produce anger.

This is why we pray asking God to keep our communication wholesome and profitable. Ephesians 4:29 teaches us, 29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.

Each day we must also pray for whoever crosses our path to communicate effectively that will bring glory to God.

In James 1:19, 19 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;

God bless you, Via, and thank you for sharing yet another good topic for discussion and growing.
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Assignments sound really important don't they?. I hope I dont get one like Ezekiel...
He was told in advance that his beloved wife would die. His was not to mourn her death. He was told not to cry and show remorse among the people. He was not to participate in anything to show his grief. So That the others would do Just has he had done. Wow. imagine that.

I think I prefer just to keep my communication wholesome uplifting and profitable😊

🙏

thank you and God bless you brother.
 
There is the serenity prayer, which states:

O God and Heavenly Father,
Grant to us
the serenity of mind to accept that which cannot be changed;
courage to change that which can be changed,
and wisdom to know the one from the other,
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
Amen

That wisdom is often the difference between meddling and helping.

One can always submit a concern the the Lord in prayer.
One can also be sensitive to the Lord using one's self to answer that prayer.
 
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