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A little boy was sitting on his steps eating candy just as fast as he could unwrap each piece. A man passing by saw what he was doing and said, “Son, all that candy is not good for you! You’re going to spoil your dinner.” The little boy slowly looked up while still chewing his candy and said, “I don’t know about all that, but my grandpa lived to be 102.” With a look of deep shock and awe the man responded, “You mean to tell me your grandfather lived to be 102 years old by eating candy?” “No,” the little boy said, “he lived to 102 by minding his own business.” Hahaha.

Hank Williams, Jr. sang it best: “If you mind your own business, you’ll be busy all the time.” Living in a small community can make us feel that the latest gossip and talking about folks and getting all up in other people’s business is way worse here than anywhere. It’s not.

All over the world people are more concerned with others than themselves. Ray Charles said, “My mom taught me a lot. A lot about minding your own business and leaving other people’s business alone and let them think what they want.”

Retired Naval Officer and Author, Robert Heinlein, said that “90% of all human wisdom is the ability to mind your own business.”

The Bible tells us that those who claim Christ shouldn’t meddle in other people’s business, but to worry about their own affairs. While we are called to correct wrong behavior in other followers of Christ, to hold each other accountable and to guide in His way, we aren’t called to be nosy, meddlesome, gossipers or busybodies.

In Proverbs 26:17 we see that “interfering in someone else’s argument is as foolish as yanking a dog’s ears.” 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 says to “Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you to do so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.”

Peter challenges us saying that while we may suffer for being Christian and while suffering can and will occur, we must not suffer for a bunch of items including prying into other people’s affairs.

The apostle Paul told the Philippian church in 4:8, “Finally, whatever is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”

As Christian hip-hop artist, LeCrae, says, “Make the most of your life instead of comparing it to everyone else’s.” Be the good.

Rev. J. Cameron Bailey is pastor at Kenbridge Christian Church. He can be reached at jamescameronbailey@gmail. com.