Meddling is a serious sin, comparable to murder, theft, and evildoing, because it involves stepping outside the sphere of responsibility God has assigned to each person. The term allotriepiskopos describes one who oversees matters not his own, while periergos portrays an idle person who interferes in others' affairs. It arises when believers entangle themselves in political controversies, judge civil leaders whom God has placed in authority, or presume their wisdom above God's, committing idolatry. Jesus modeled refusal to exceed His sphere, and Paul respected such limits. Meddling contaminates the mind, drives out the Father's love, and destroys sanctification. Grouped with gossip, slander, and cursing, it violates upright speech. Believers must lead quiet lives, work diligently, and mind their own business.

Playlist:

playlist Go to the Meddling (topic) playlist

Filter by Categories

Don't Meddle and Always Be Ready to Answer

Sermon by Mark Schindler

Meddling arises as a serious spiritual hazard when believers allow themselves to become entangled in the political controversies and power struggles of this world. The warning appears in the instruction that none should suffer as a meddler, a term denoting one who interferes in matters that lie outside his proper concern and under God's sovereign authority alone. Such interference is presented as equivalent to other overt sins because it contaminates the mind, crowds out the affectionate love of the Father and Christ, and violates the call to remain unspotted while living as sojourners. The same principle surfaces when reactions to civil leaders, whether Nero or modern presidents, provoke attempts to judge or correct those whom God has placed in authority. Honoring the king and submitting to every ordinance remain binding commands precisely because resisting the office resists God's arrangement; any move beyond that honor into partisan opposition constitutes meddling. This activity is shown to be especially dangerous in the present period of national exposure and judgment, when the curses of Deuteronomy 28 are visibly unfolding and the temptation to join the world's enmity against God grows intense. The broader message ties meddling directly to the loss of sanctification. Christ prayed that His disciples would be kept from the evil one while remaining in the world, not taken out of it, so that the truth might continue to set them apart. When the mind dwells on political remedies or moral campaigns that belong to God's timing and judgment, the purifying salt and illuminating light of Christ are trampled underfoot. In contrast, the positive calling requires fixing attention above, clothing oneself with mercy, humility, and love, letting the peace of Christ rule, and doing all things in His name. By maintaining this focus, believers avoid the meddling that would otherwise drive out the very presence they are meant to embody and bear witness to a world still separated from God.

What's So Bad About Busybodies?

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Meddling, or acting as a busybody in others' affairs, receives stern treatment in Scripture as a sin comparable to murder, theft, or evildoing because it involves stepping outside the sphere of responsibility and authority that God has assigned to each person. The term allotriepiskopos describes one who presumes to oversee matters not his own, while periergos portrays someone who works around trifles and, through idleness, interferes in the affairs of others. Such conduct arises when individuals fail to remain occupied with their own God-given duties, allowing them to look across boundaries and insert themselves where they lack appointment. Jesus Himself modeled refusal to exceed His sphere when He declined to arbitrate an inheritance dispute and rejected Satan's offer of worldly kingdoms before the appointed time. Paul likewise respected limits on his apostolic authority and instructed believers to mind their own business while working quietly with their hands. Failure to do so produces presumption that places personal wisdom above God's, effectively committing idolatry, while also violating the command to labor six days, bearing false witness through accompanying gossip, and damaging the witness of God's name before outsiders. The result is relational conflict, disunity, and complication of God's direct dealings with His children, as when one inserts himself into another's chastisement or counsel. Scripture therefore urges believers to increase in love, lead quiet lives, and work out their own salvation, recognizing that sufficient responsibility already rests upon each person to preclude meddling in the lives of others.

Making the Cut (Part Three)

CGG Weekly by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Meddling appears in the material as one of several misuses of speech that must be avoided by anyone seeking to dwell permanently with God. It is grouped with useless arguing, gossip, cursing, slander, and insulting as conduct that violates the requirement to speak truth in the heart. This prohibition forms part of the three specific restraints that follow the positive standards of walking uprightly, working righteousness, and speaking truth. The text presents such speech as evidence of an inner condition that falls short of the blameless integrity demanded for both this life and the resurrection, since the same law and character apply in both. By including meddling among these forbidden expressions, the material underscores that every word must be sure and trustworthy, never serving to interfere in the affairs of others or to spread harm, thereby aligning the tongue with the overall upright walk that reflects God's own standard of righteousness.

Gossip

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

The apostle James says that the tongue can metaphorically start a dangerous fire. He warns that gossip, tale-bearing and being a busy-body is like murder.

What Is Happening Is Ordained of God

Sermon by Mark Schindler

As we look at the insanity around us, we need to remember that our citizenship is in heaven. We cannot allow pride to draw us into the controversy before us.

Politics and Christ's Return

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Because we are set apart by God, we are not to become involved in the world's political, judicial, or military systems. Our term in office has yet to begin.

It Takes a Church

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

As Christians, we need to form warm, productive, quality relationships with our brethren, actively ministering to the needs of one another.

"If I Have Not Charity"

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Christianity has both an inward aspect (building godly character or becoming sanctified) and an outward aspect (doing practical good works).