"Busybodies Needed"

 

“Busybodies Needed”

 

We’ve all run into people who seem to think everyone else’s business is theirs as well. They ask probing personal questions and can be offended if they’re not answered. They delight in juicy tidbits of gossip, rumors and innuendo and are quick to make sure others know it as well (“The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to a {person’s} inmost parts.”—Proverbs 18:8). Years ago a TV commercial for a “newspaper” dedicated to exposing “the truth” about people and events included a reader’s saying, “I want to know!” Why? Maybe to try to prove they’re “not so bad” when compared to others.

A term used to describe such an

 individual is busybody, defined as one who inserts him/herself into the affairs of others without invitation. They do so because of insecurity, pride or simply not having enough to do. While it’s prevalent in today’s culture it goes back to ancient times—Proverbs deals with related subjects such as gossip (11:13), betraying confidences (20:19), backbiting (25:23, NKJV) and slander (10:18). In the first century it crept into the church which Paul confronted head-on: “We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies.” (2 Thessalonians 3:11). Apparently some had stopped working because they believed Jesus would return quickly thus sponged off others. The Greek word means literally working around and carries the idea of accomplishing nothing worthwhile. (A similar statement is found in 1 Timothy 5:13.) A few years later in 1 Peter 4:15 the Apostle uses the term “meddler”, or inserting oneself into others’ business. This continues to plague the church and cause divisions, often “…(separating) close friends.” (Proverbs 17:9).

Do we need busybodies? Certainly not in the sense described above but we do in a much more positive way. Following his doctrinal treatise on God’s plan of salvation (Romans 1-11) Paul calls for his readers’ (and our) response: “And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will accept. When you think of what he has done for you, is this too much to ask?” (Romans 12:1, NLT, emphasis added). Put another way, we’re to be busybodies about living for and serving our Lord. In writing to his protégé the Apostle builds on this theme: “If (one is cleansed, one) will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.” (2 Timothy 2:21). If we keep our hearts, minds and bodies busy about God’s business rather than that of others wouldn’t the church be enriched? That’s the kind of busybodies He needs—will we (I) be one for Him?

 

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan