That's None of My Business

 Happy Sunday!

"Indeed, your love is already strong toward all the Christian brothers throughout your whole nation. Even so, dear friends, we BEG you to love them more and more. This should be your AMBITION: to live a quiet life, MINDING your own business and doing your OWN work, just as we told you before. As a result, people who are NOT Christians will TRUST and RESPECT you, and you will not need to DEPEND on others for enough money to pay your bills."(1 Thessalonians 4:10-12 TLB).

After the Resurrection, Jesus appeared to His disciples' numerous times.  During one interaction he asks Peter three times, "Do you love me?"  Peter responded three times, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”(John 21:16 NIV).  Perhaps, Peter felt uncomfortable because he denied the Lord three times around the campfire.  He tries to change the subject and asks the Lord about John.  "So he said, “Yes, Lord, but what about him?” "If it is my wish,” returned Jesus, “for him to stay until I come, is that your business, Peter? YOU must follow me.”(John 21:21-22 Phillips).

What a great response from Jesus!  You know I connect everything to songs!  This made me think of the rap song by Andy Mineo entitled, "That's None of My Business"!  Why?  So glad you asked!  Time spent worrying about what others think or say about us is wasting time! Our ambition, as the Apostle told the Thessalonians, should be to live quietly, and mind our own business.  We have so much to do daily to live our own lives!  When we read the Bible, we can barely read one chapter without running across an encouragement to do better!  

For instance, I enjoy a good nap!  Reading Proverbs 6:10-11 has me thinking and changing my ways.  It says, "You say, “I need a rest. I think I’ll take a short nap.” But then you sleep and sleep and become poorer and poorer. Soon you will have nothing. It will be as if a thief came and stole everything you owned."(ERV).  Ouch!  I think I will limit the naps!  Then when I'm finishing that half gallon of Moose Tracks Deluxe Chocolate Ice Cream, I remember Proverbs 23:2-3, "Don’t gobble your food, don’t talk with your mouth full. And don’t STUFF yourself; BRIDLE your appetite."(Message).  And when I'm feeling like I really don't want to be bothered, and I want to be alone, I remember Jesus said, “Don’t begin by traveling to some far-off place to convert unbelievers. And don’t try to be dramatic by tackling some public enemy. GO to the lost, confused people RIGHT HERE in the neighborhood. TELL them that the kingdom is here. Bring health to the sick. Raise the dead. Touch the untouchables. Kick out the demons. You have been treated generously, so live generously."(Matthew 10:7-8 Message).

Love and prayers, Cynthia