MIND YOUR BUSINESS

Mind Your Business (The four tongues)

What we say probably affects more people than any other action we take. It is not surprising, then, to find that the book of Proverbs gives special attention to words and how they are used. Four common speech patterns are described in Proverbs. Two that should be copied and two that should be avoided. The "controlled tongue" and the "caring tongue" should be copied. The "conniving tongue" and the "careless tongue" should be avoided. The "controlled tongue" refers to those with a speech pattern that think before speaking, know when silence is best and give wise advice. The "caring tongue" refers to those with a speech pattern that speak truthfully while seeking to encourage. The "conniving tongue" refers to those with a speech pattern that are filled with wrong motives, gossip, slander and a desire to twist the truth. The "careless tongue" refers to those with a speech pattern that are filled with lies, curses and quick-tempered words which can lead to rebellion and destruction.

Now, let me touch on something that is very common in our daily lives.

Proverbs 26:17 says the following: "Like one who seizes a dog by the ears is a passer-by who meddles in a quarrel not his own."

Seizing the ears of a stray dog is a good way to get bitten, and interfering in arguments is a good way to get hurt. Many times both arguers will turn on the person who interferes. It is best simply to keep out of arguments that are none of your business. If you must become involved, try to wait until the arguers have stopped fighting and cooled off a bit. Then maybe you can help them mend their differences and their relationship.

It is important to recognize our tendency to meddle in others' affairs.

There are times when things do not or should not concern us, but we act as though they do.

We are social creatures affected by the lives of those about us. We have some knowledge of right and wrong and good and evil, and we are to apply that in our daily lives. We also need to get better at applying that knowledge. We are curious, and for these and other reasons, we have a hard time minding our own business or understanding what affects us and what does not. All of us show a marked rejection of what we perceive as someone “sticking their nose in our affairs.” There are times when things do not or should not concern us, but we act as though they do.

One of the most dangerous assignments peace officers have is to be called to a family quarrel or dispute. The officers come because it is their job, but those involved are often incensed by their presence. In the cases where a quarrel really is not our own, we may think interference will help, but we need to know that there are times when great trouble can arise. If it is not our quarrel, we are grabbing a mad dog by the ears. Peace officers have a job to do—bystanders often do not. Think hard before you meddle.