Mind your own business

Mind Your Own Business!
Text: 1 Thess 4: 11 – 12.

11 And to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, 12 so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody. Amen

There are so many things that go on in the world around us each day which really shouldn't bother us at all, except in prayer. After which we must continue with our own lives — seeking to please the Lord.

This means: we pray concerning all things, fixing what we must fix, allowing God to do the rest; continue living a quiet life, minding our own business and working with our hands.

It is very easy to become a busy-body in a world where so much happens in a second. Many have been caught up in one situation or the other trying to meddle in affairs that really don't require their attention.

Clearly, it has become their habit to meddle into other people's business. They do not even realise that all the time they waste gossiping, backbiting, "poking" and engaging in matters of no direct relevance to their lives could have been invested into something profitable.

Do not be like them, child of God. Make it your ambition to live a quiet and responsible life. One that pleases the Lord through the fellowship of His Spirit and hard work. The whole time you will be meddling in matters that do not concern you, your own business will be on hold, waiting for your attention because no one else will do that for you.

At least, now you know why people do not show you the respect you deserve, but rather talk to you anyhow. It's because you keep meddling and would not rather mind your own business. They also think the time invested in other people's business could be profitable in work so that you do not depend on anyone for sustenance.

Living a quiet life and minding our own business helps us conserve energy to work on those things that are relevant for optimum results. The other drains life and leaves us frustrated all the time. It is also a waste of time that only earns us nothing but disrespect and trouble.

Begin to pray therefore. Ask the Lord to re-order your life. Ask that He helps you prioritize those things that are useful and give you the strength and wisdom to pursue them. Everyone must do this for themselves. The better tomorrow we hope for, begins with what we do with our hands today, not how much of other people's business we get involved with.