If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler.
Summary: Everyone suffers. Peter understands this and encourages us to avoid suffering for doing wrong, even if we suffer for doing right.
Suffering is part of the human condition. Everyone suffers.
How do I know that? Am I a mind reader?
No. It is simple logic. Suffering is relative. Only God is unchanging. (Hebrews 6:17) With people, our worlds are constantly changing. If there is joy, then there must also be suffering. Who goes through life with all “ups” and no “downs?”
Peter suggests that we have some choice in the matter. We can choose the kind of suffering we have to endure. We can suffer for doing wrong, or we can do what is right and maybe suffer anyway.
As we saw yesterday, if we suffer because of the name of Christ, we are blessed. If we suffer for doing wrong, we are only getting what we deserve. (Psalm 107:17) So Peter points out that if we are going to suffer, and we will suffer at some point in our lives, it should not be for doing wrong. So let’s look at the “wrongs” that Peter uses for his illustration.
You should not be a murderer. Okay, most of us would agree that murdering someone is wrong.
You should not be a thief. Sadly, from what I have read in the news, it is not uncommon for people to think it is okay to steal.
As a Christian, you should not be any kind of a criminal. Here again, we run into the “slippery slope” conundrum. What does it mean to be “criminal?” Peter has already covered murder and stealing. What about speeding? Does bouncing a check count as a criminal act? How about moving a neighbor’s property line marker? Anything that is not “right” according to the law is technically criminal.
Finally, we get to the last item on Peter’s list, meddling.
Does that seem like a let-down? Does “meddling” really belong on this list?
Peter thinks so. When people meddle, they insert themselves into someone else’s life. They offer the benefit of their wisdom and knowledge without being asked. They assume that they know what is best without bothering to understand that they cannot know all the details of someone else’s life.
Murder is bad. Stealing is wrong. Being a criminal is shameful. Yet, if you stack up all the bad things done by criminals, how would that compare to the pile of bad things done by meddlers?
Application: Adjust your expectation so that suffering for doing right seems normal even while you work hard to avoid doing wrong.
Food for Thought: What are the benefits of not meddling in the lives of others?
I have nothing nice to say about people who meddle and am currently dealing with a meddling neighbor. I pray for them daily.
Tim,
I want to echo Rich’s comment about your neighbor. Your response is both Scriptural (Matthew 5:44) and practical. It is a godly way of responding. Well done!
Tim, prayer is a great and gracious way to respond to a meddler. Well done.
One benefit to not meddling is we can live in harmony with our neighbors and others. Meddling is an evil act because it places our interests over others and we place ourselves as a judge over another. It is the opposite of what we see in Philippians 2: 3-5.
Great reference verse, Rich!
Thank you! (Link here)
Meddling in another’s life is a disservice to all involved. It can actually be harmful in ways that people often don’t think about. Meddling (or as my former mother-in-law used to refer to it as “helping”), you run the risk of not allowing the other person to go through a natural consequence for their actions. As a result, it might allow the person to avoid taking responsibility for what they’ve done or it might allow them an excuse to continue doing what they’re doing. I’ve seen this in my own family as well with an older sibling. My parents would meddle in my older sister’s life rather than allowing consequences to fall where they should and as a result, I have an older sister who is still blaming the world for everything.
Meddling is also often rampant in the work place, trying to “help” others do their job better. (To me, meddling is different than gossiping.) As I’ve always said to my kids, “Who do we worry about?” The answer is ourselves. It is better to wait for someone to ask rather than insert yourself into their situation. Even Jesus didn’t meddle. He waited for people to approach him for healing.
Correction inserted at Darla’s request. – JE
Darla,
Thank you for your comment today. There is a lot of wisdom in your words. You make a very interesting point about Jesus, too. God doesn’t meddle. Even though he knows what is better for us. He waits for us to open the door…
Thank you Darla I agree with you.
What are the benefits of not meddling in the lives of others?
In Mark 12:30-31, Jesus sets the bar for us. “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength.” And “Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
We are to examine ourselves, look at our lives, our faith, test ourselves.
1.) Where do we put our confidence? Is it in our abilities or Christ in our lives? Do we agonize, worry over our limited abilities to provide, or do we trust in Christ in us to accomplish all things through His unlimited powers.
Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
2.) What is our calling? Have we been called by God to look for and resolve the problems of all those around us? “The splinters in their eyes?” OR, have we been called to prayerfully listen to the Holy Spirit. Apply His wisdom and corrections to our lives so we can mature as God desires. And minister to others by allowing the love and wisdom of Jesus Christ to be seen in our lives?
Colossians 1:9-10, For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God.
I have searched and searched, meddling does not come up as a calling from God. I think it is a characteristic of a person of the world.
Ron,
I think you deserve a “meddle of honor” for your comment today!
Well said!
Jeff,
You never cease to amaze me, I feel fortunate to be able to meddle through that one.
It kinda feels like meddling reading all these great comments,..I mean I kinda feel like I am inserting myself in your life just by reading,..maybe I am wrong here but there is a benefit in sharing with others,..I can pray for you and not tell you that an arrow has been shot up to heaven,..I get to take what has been written here and apply the principles to my life,..I get to grow in an online relationship with others that share the same faith and believe in the same Jesus Christ from the bible in which we read,…
Aren’t we meddling for Christ sorta speak? I mean if we don’t meddle we won’t know if they are believers in Christ or not,..maybe I am wrong with the word meddle here, but if we don’t meddle in other peoples lives they may never come to know Christ as their Lord and Savior. Like I said,..maybe I have the word meddle mixed up with another word,..but God does want every knee to bow,..and we do have a responsibility to share the gospel with all who will listen,.. isn’t that like meddling Christ into the conversation?
Hi John,
Thank you for sharing! You’ve got a great question! I am really glad you asked it. Aren’t we supposed to meddle for Christ?
The online Cambridge dictionary offers this definition for “meddle:”
“to try to change or have an influence on things that are not your responsibility, especially by criticizing in a damaging or annoying way”
So I if I take it upon myself to tell you how you should run your fencing business by making sneering comments with a condescending tone of voice, I am meddling.
If I make a helpful suggestion, or offer help, in a loving way, that is not meddling. However, there is a fine line there. I can see where someone might misconstrue the intent and accuse a genuinely helpful person of “meddling.”
We can’t control how people perceive us, so there is always a risk of being falsely accused of meddling when we are trying to do good. It seems to me that the true meddler would become indignant and double down on their meddling, or retaliate in some way to being called out. The true Christian would turn the other cheek and then do a self check (Matthew 7:1-5).
So thank you! Great question. If anyone else has additional insights on this I would love to see it.
Thanks for the insight,..I certainly don’t want to damage someone’s life,..I agree how things can get misconstrued just by helping out another,..
Keep doing what you do,..much appreciated!
👍🏻