We can come across people who seem to like to interfere and meddle in other people’s lives. Whereas people who gossip tend to gain a lot of their information indirectly, and talk about others behind their backs, people who meddle like to draw out personal information directly from their subjects. They might try to get information about our relationships, our money, what we eat, what we’re planning to do about something, and so on. Some people ask out of a genuine desire to help or to pray for us, but those who just want to interfere might ask to satisfy their curiosity, to make themselves feel better about their own lives, or to tell us what they think we should be doing. We’re called to help, encourage and pray for others, but we need to be careful that we’re not crossing the line into meddling. We don’t need to know every little detail about a person’s situation to be able to do those things for them. Even if God prompts us to give a word of advice or share a Bible verse with them, we don’t have to know why. Proverbs 26:17 says: ‘Interfering in someone else’s quarrel as you pass by is like grabbing a dog by the ears’ (NCV). A dog’s ears are very sensitive, and if someone pulls them, they’re likely to get bitten. God classes meddling as a sin: ‘If you are insulted because you bear the name of Christ, you will be blessed, for the glorious Spirit of God rests upon you. If you suffer, however, it must not be for murder, stealing, making trouble, or prying into other people’s affairs’ (1 Peter 4:16-15 NLT). So let’s make sure we’re keeping our curiosity within the bounds of what’s appropriate.

What Now?

Do you know someone who tends to try and interfere in your life? Today, pray for them and ask God to help them realise their boundaries and consider their motives.