Are you a Busybody?

Have you ever played the game, Gossip? A person starts by telling one person something, whispering in their ear, they in turn repeat it and on and on until everyone in the room has had this “same thing” whispered in their ear. By the time the message gets to the last person, it rarely even resembles the beginning tale.

That is a game and I’m sure people may alter things on purpose for the fun of it, how is that different than how stories are told in our life? 

I hear a lot of things that I never repeat but then hear it from other sources and it is rarely the whole truth. It is said that if you listen to two people give their side of a story the truth lies somewhere in the middle. 

Psalm 15:1-3 Who may worship in your sanctuary, Lord? Who may enter your presence on your holy hill? Those who lead blameless lives and do what is right, speaking the truth from sincere hearts. Those who refuse to gossip or harm their neighbors or speak evil of their friends.

Psalm 34:12-14 Does anyone want to live a life that is long and prosperous? Then keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies! Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it.

To gossip is un-Godly no matter how you look at it, and it can cause a world of trouble.The New Testament church was facing this problem, because James addressed it…

James 3:5-8 In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches. But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. And the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself. People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish, but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison.

Out of all the things in the Bible that we could read about, have you ever read about “busybodies?” Did you know that word was even in the Bible? 

2Thessalonians 3:11-13 For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread. But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good. 

Paul, in addressing the Thessalonian people 3:3 says, But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one.

1 Peter 4:15 gives us a REAL shocker! But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, OR AS A BUSYBODY in other people’s matters.

Did I just read what I THOUGHT I READ? A busybody is listed with murderers and thieves and evil doers! 

It must be a really bad thing to mess in other people’s lives!