MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS!

WISDOM FOR LIVING DAILY DEVOTIONAL

JUNE 29, 2022

TOPIC: MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS!

BY T. O. BANSO

“[But we urge you] that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you” (1 Thessalonians 4:11 New King James Version).

“Mind your own business” does not contradict Philippians 2:4, which says, “Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others” (New King James Version). It is not advocating a self-centred or selfish life.

1 Corinthians 10:24 says, “Let no one seek his own, but each one the other’s well-being” (New King James Version).  This does not contradict “Mind your own business.”  “Mind your own business” simply means don’t interfere in other people’s affairs or meddle in what doesn’t concern you. It means don’t gossip about anyone and stay out of other people’s businesses.

Mind your own business! Don’t be drawn into a matter that doesn’t concern you. Respect people’s privacy. Don’t make other people’s businesses your business! Paul said, “[But we urge you] that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you” (1 Thessalonians 4:11 New King James Version).

A man approached Jesus, asking Him to tell his brother to give him his share of their father’s inheritance. Jesus refused to be drawn into that. The Bible says, “But He said to him, ‘Man, who made Me a judge or an arbitrator over you?’” (Luke 12:14 New King James Version).

Two Hebrew men were fighting in Egypt, and Moses tried to be a peacemaker. But the one who was wrong told him, “Who made you a prince and a judge over us? Do you want to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?” (Exodus 2:14 New King James Version).

Referring to this incident, Acts 7:27-29 says, “But he who did his neighbor wrong pushed him away, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge over us? Do you want to kill me as you did the Egyptian yesterday?’ Then, at this saying, Moses fled and became a dweller in the land of Midian, where he had two sons” (New King James Version).   

It was after 40 years in Midian that God sent Moses back to Egypt to deliver the Israelites (Acts 7:30). Verse 35 says, “This Moses whom they rejected, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge?’ is the one God sent to be a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the Angel who appeared to him in the bush” (New King James Version). Moses was 40 years ahead of God in trying to lead the Israelites!

Compare what the Hebrew man said to Moses, to what Jesus said. As we saw earlier, though Jesus was invited by that man to get involved in the sharing of his family inheritance, He knew He was not a judge over his family. He had no anointing for sharing family inheritance! He came to save souls, not to share family inheritance!

Don’t interfere in what doesn’t concern you. Being a pastor doesn’t give you the authority to be involved in every family matter of your members or in everything. Don’t try to take over the jobs of other people.

Even if you’re invited, let them know you know your boundaries. Moreover, there are things you shouldn’t invite yourself into! Mind your business. Respect people’s privacy.

In 2 Chronicles 35:20-24, King Josiah of Judah, a good king, died prematurely because he interfered in a war that didn’t concern him. Despite King Necho of Egypt’s assurance that he had not come to fight him but his (Necho’s) enemies, Josiah went to fight him, going into the battle disguising. The enemy archers shot him and wounded him. At his request, his servants took him to Jerusalem where he died. Josiah died needlessly because he didn’t mind his own business. Don’t get involved in another person’s battle. Similarly, don’t let anyone recruit you to fight his enemy!

Know what concerns you and what doesn’t. If you get involved and you get yourself into trouble, it’s your fault.  2 Thessalonians 3:11-12 warns believers not to go about interfering in or meddling in other people’s businesses but settle down, get to work, and earn their own living. Don’t busy yourself in other people’s lives. 1 Peter 4:15 says, “But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters” (New King James Version). Take note of the last phrase in this scripture: a busybody in other people’s matters. Don’t be a busybody or pry into the affairs of others. Mind your own business.

In 1 Timothy 5:13, Paul warned about the possibility of young widows becoming lazy and spending their time gossiping from house to house, getting into other people’s business, and saying things they shouldn’t. There are also those who are not widows who engage in such unchristian practices. If you’re guilty of this, stop it.

Idleness can make people become meddlesome. Paul said he laboured, working with his own hands (1 Corinthians 4:12). He didn’t loaf about. If you’re busy with your work, you hardly will have time to interfere in other people’s affairs.

Ephesians 4:28 says, “Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need” (New King James Version). Each person should engage in productive work and mind his own business.

Don’t meddle in other people’s affairs. Proverbs 26:17 says “He who passes by and meddles in a quarrel not his own is like one who takes a dog by the ears” (New King James Version). Galatians 6:4-5 says each one should examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another, for each one shall bear his own load. Each person will give an account of himself to God (Romans 14:12).

Talking about hypocrites, who didn’t mind their own business, but liked to point out others’ faults, Jesus said, “And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me remove the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the plank that is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck that is in your brother’s eye” (Luke 6:41-42 New King James Version). Matthew 7:3-5 says a similar thing. Mind your own business!

After Jesus had told Peter how he would die, Peter asked him, “Lord, what about him?” – referring to the disciple Jesus loved, believed to be John. Jesus replied to him, “If I want him to live until I come back, that is not your business. You follow me” (John 21:22 New Century Version). Mind your own business!

As you seek the well-being of others according to 1 Corinthians 10:24, know your boundaries. Although Philippians 2:4 says you should look out not only for your own interests but also for the interests of others, know your limits. Know what concerns you and what doesn’t. Know what should bother you and what shouldn’t.

Don’t waste your time on what doesn’t concern you. Everybody will live with the consequences of his decisions. You should know when advising some people should stop, while you keep praying for them instead. Walk in love with others, but mind your business.

TAKE ACTION!

If you have not given your life to Jesus, do so now by taking the following steps: *Admit that you are a sinner and you cannot save yourself and repent of your sins. *Confess Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. *Renounce your past way of life – your relationship with the devil and his works. *Invite Jesus into your life. *As a mark of seriousness to mature in the faith, start attending a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church. There they will teach you how to grow in the Kingdom of God.

Kindly say this prayer now: O Lord God, I come unto You today. I know I am a sinner and I cannot save myself. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross to save me and God raised Him on the third day. I repent of my sins and confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. I surrender my life to Jesus now and invite Him into my heart. By this prayer, I know I am saved. Thank You, Jesus, for saving me and making me a child of God.

I believe you have said this prayer from your heart. Congratulations! You will need to join a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church in your area where they will teach you how to live your new life in Christ Jesus. I pray that you flourish like a palm tree and grow like a cedar of Lebanon. May you grow into Christ in all things and become all God wants you to be. I will be glad to hear from you. The Lord be with you.

 PRAYER POINTS: Father, I shall mind my own business and work with my hands. I shall not pry into other people’s affairs. Holy Spirit, as I look for the interests of others and seek their well-being, help me to stay within my boundaries.

(For over 800 in-depth and powerful messages by T. O. Banso, visit www.cedarministry.org).

 T. O. Banso is the President of Cedar Ministry International, Abuja, Nigeria.
Phone No: +2348155744752, +2348033113523
WhatsApp No: +2349081295947
Email: cedarministryintl@yahoo.com,
cedarministryng@gmail.com
Website: www.cedarministry.org