What Proverbs Says About Meddling and Gossip (Proverbs 26)
Do you ever catch yourself meddling in things that aren’t your concern? Proverbs warns that meddling only stirs up conflict and invites trouble.
Proverbs 26
Today's Scripture Passage
A Few Thoughts to Consider
Are you a meddler in other people’s business?
Chances are you can think of someone who fits this profile, but it’s difficult to see ourselves as gossip or a meddler in other people’s affairs. In Proverbs 26, Solomon provides practical advice on dealing with fools, warns against laziness, and cautions against deceit and malice. In verses 17-22, he says:
17 A person who is passing by and meddles in a quarrel that’s not his
is like one who grabs a dog by the ears.
18 Like a madman who throws flaming darts and deadly arrows,
19 so is the person who deceives his neighbor
and says, “I was only joking!”
20 Without wood, fire goes out;
without a gossip, conflict dies down.
21 As charcoal for embers and wood for fire,
so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife.
22 A gossip’s words are like choice food
that goes down to one’s innermost being.
The word for meddles is the Hebrew verb which literally means “become excited.”[1] Rather than sticking to one’s own business, a person becomes involved in the affairs of others. As many know from experience, “Yanking the ears of a dog is a good way to get bitten, and interfering in arguments is a good way to get hurt.”[2] The reason is that we’re out of place, and our voice isn’t valued. Every person has a certain amount of relational capital, and sometimes, we might have the right message to deliver but be the wrong one to deliver it.
Focusing on verses 18-19, Bruce Waltke writes, “The comparison of the treacherous clown with an armed and berserk warrior is double. Both cannot distinguish right from wrong and both inflict horrible tragedy upon the community. However, the madman is out of his mind and cannot plot evil, whereas the mischief-maker is cunning, showing he is intellectually capable of carrying out a crime.”[3] Notice the difference. “His problem is not intellectual but spiritual; he lacks kind affections. The madman is not culpable for his crime; the mischief-maker is.”[4] However, when we refuse to meddle or gossip, we stop feeding the fire that burns, and conflict diminishes.
A Meditation to PRAY
Praise | Lord, I praise you for your wisdom and guidance in teaching me the importance of avoiding meddling, deceit, and discord. This is a word I need to hear. You never gossip or slander, and your words are always good.
Release | I release my tendency to interfere in matters that do not concern me. Help me to let go of any deceptive or malicious thoughts that may arise in my heart. Free me from the urge to spread gossip or cause division among others.
Ask | I ask for your wisdom and discernment, Lord, to recognize when to stay silent and when to speak. Fill me with a spirit of peace and integrity. Guide my words and actions so that they reflect your love and truth, and help me to build others up rather than tear them down.
Yield | I yield my tongue to you, Lord, committing to speak only words that bring healing and unity. I surrender my desire to engage in quarrels and mischief, choosing instead to follow your path of wisdom and righteousness. Let my life be a testament to your grace and mercy.
