“The lips of fools bring them strife, and their mouths invite a beating.”
Have you ever wanted to just punch someone in the face? Come on, no one will know what you are thinking right now. I certainly know I have. In all my years of life I never followed through on that desire, at least not that I remember. But, I sure wanted to. I’ve thrown things at the tv and I’ve thought things along those lines. It’s interesting how I felt that way much more when I was young. Hopefully I’ve grown in my faith journey and the Holy Spirit has wrestled more control of both my heart and mind over the years. One of the realizations that has helped me control those thoughts more effectively is gaining a better grasp on the fact that I probably have three times as many people who wanted to punch me in the face. Nothing shifts our view of others faster than a clearer glimpse of ourselves. One of the emphases of this verse is about the person who jumps into an argument or fight that is not even theirs to begin with. This leads to it becoming their fight and the resulting consequences being on them as well. It also tends to exacerbate the argument beyond where it originally was. The solution to all of this is to “mind your own business”. This verse from Solomon is paralleled by the old Native American saying, “Even a fish would stay out of trouble if it kept its mouth shut”. Today bring peace and kindness to others or stay out of the way. #BeTheEdge
“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,” 1 Thessalonians 4:11 NIV
