(Mind your own affairs” ( I Thessalonians 4:11)
Human beings are fixated on one another. We want to know what celebrities are doing. We want to know what politicians are saying. We want to know what new thing our neighbors are buying. We ask question like, “why do I have to do this and they don’t?” – “Why does it seem like they never have problems and I do?” We are preoccupied with an obsessive attachment to one another’s business, and the world enjoys feeding our obsession. It tantalizes us to listen to the news media, watch talk shows, read tabloids, flock to purchase the latest autobiography, and buy binoculars in order to spy on the neighbors. In other words, the world makes a lot of money off human nature’s obsession with one another.
The bible addresses this preoccupation. In fact, Jesus was blunt with Peter about his fixation on another one of the disciples. The incident is recorded at the end of John chapter 21. Following Christ’s death and resurrection Peter, along with a couple of the other disciples, were fishing. When they returned to shore Christ was waiting for them. After partaking of a fish dinner, Jesus honed in on Peter, asking him three times if he loved Him. The conversation resulted in Christ telling Peter to feed his sheep. But right after receiving that command Peter turned, and seeing the disciple John following them said to Jesus, “Lord, what about him?” (Verse 21) “I want to know what you want him to do.” “I want to know what his job is going to be.” Peter’s attention went from his orders, to a preoccupation with what another disciple’s orders were going to be.
“What about them?” Have we not all asked that question at some point in our life? “What are they going to do?” “What’s going to happen to them?” Christ’s answer to Peter’s question regarding John is a classic one. “If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!” (Verse 22) Allow me to paraphrase that into today’s language. “That’s none of your business, Pete. Your business is to follow me!” Jesus was not being mean, but he was demonstrating a truth we all need to learn. God will take care of everyone else. Our focus needs to be on obedience to him.
We each have enough to focus on in our own lives. Are we doing what Christ wants us to do? Are we loving one another like He asks us to? Are we living a life that is a testimony to others? Rather than ask the question, “What about them?” we should be asking the question, “What about me?”
Darlene