Busybodies

Bible verses about busybodies

When you’re not doing something productive in your life that leads many people to gossip and worry about others in a bad way. Have you ever heard idle hands are the devil’s workshop?

There’s always that one person who finds out other people’s information and tells everybody. That person is a busybody. They go up to people and say, “did you hear about so and so?” These people are annoying and most of the time they don’t have all the details so they could be spreading lies.

Be careful busybodies are everywhere. I’ve met them at church, school, work, and they’re even on social media sites like Twitter, Facebook, etc. These people are worried about other people so much that they can’t see the huge plank in their eyes.

God is not pleased and there will be no busybody who enters into Heaven. Don’t meddle and be an instigator in other people’s problems. All you’re doing is making it worse. A virtuous woman will not be a meddler. If it had nothing to do with you to start with let it remain that way. Use your time wisely, go work, go evangelize, pray, but don’t be a busybody.

What does the Bible say?

1.  2 Thessalonians 3:5-13 May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers and sisters, to keep away from every believer who is idle and disruptive and does not live according to the teaching you received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you to imitate. For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.” We hear that some are not working. But they are spending their time trying to see what others are doing. Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the food they eat. And as for you, brothers and sisters, never tire of doing what is good.

2.  1 Timothy 5:9-15 To be on the list of widows, a woman must be at least sixty years old. She must have been faithful to her husband. She must be known for her good works—works such as raising her children, welcoming strangers, washing the feet of God’s people, helping those in trouble, and giving her life to do all kinds of good deeds. But do not put younger widows on that list. After they give themselves to Christ, they are pulled away from him by their physical desires, and then they want to marry again. They will be judged for not doing what they first promised to do. Besides that, they learn to waste their time, going from house to house. And they not only waste their time but also begin to gossip and busy themselves with other people’s lives, saying things they should not say. So I want the younger widows to marry, have children, and manage their homes. Then no enemy will have any reason to criticize them. But some have already turned away to follow Satan.

Quarreling

3.  Proverbs 26:16-17 Lazy people think they are seven times smarter than the people who really have good sense. To step between two people arguing is as foolish as going out into the street and grabbing a stray dog by the ears.

4. Proverbs 26:20  Proverbs 26:20-23 Without wood a fire goes out; without a gossip a quarrel dies down. As charcoal to embers and as wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife. The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to the inmost parts. Like a coating of silver dross on earthenware are fervent lips with an evil heart.

5. Proverbs 17:14 Starting a quarrel is like opening a floodgate, so stop before a dispute breaks out.

Suffer for doing good not bad

6.  1 Peter 4:13-16 But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.

7. 1 Peter 3:17-18 For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit.

Close your mouth

 8. Ephesians 4:29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

9. Proverbs 10:19-21 Sin is not ended by multiplying words, but the prudent hold their tongues. The tongue of the righteous is choice silver, but the heart of the wicked is of little value. The lips of the righteous nourish many, but fools die for lack of sense.

10. Proverbs 17:27-28 Whoever has knowledge controls his words, and a person who has understanding is even-tempered. Even a stubborn fool is thought to be wise if he keeps silent. He is considered intelligent if he keeps his lips sealed.

11. Ecclesiastes 10:12-13 Words from the mouth of the wise are gracious, but fools are consumed by their own lips. At the beginning their words are folly; at the end they are wicked madness.

12. Proverbs 21:23-24 Whoever guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble. An arrogant, conceited person is called a mocker. His arrogance knows no limits.

One of the reasons to work is so you don’t become a lazy busybody.

13. Proverbs 19:15 Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger.

14. Proverbs 20:13 Do not love sleep or you will grow poor; stay awake and you will have food to spare.

Advice

15.  Ephesians 5:14-17 because light makes everything easy to see. That’s why it says: “Wake up, sleeper! Rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” So then, be very careful how you live. Don’t live like foolish people but like wise people. Make the most of your opportunities because these are evil days. So don’t be foolish, but understand what the Lord wants.

16. Matthew 7:12 “Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets.”

17. 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.

Reminders

18. James 4:11 Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it.

19. Romans 12:1-2 Brothers and sisters, in view of all we have just shared about God’s compassion, I encourage you to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, dedicated to God and pleasing to him. This kind of worship is appropriate for you. Don’t become like the people of this world. Instead, change the way you think. Then you will always be able to determine what God really wants—what is good, pleasing, and perfect.

20. Matthew 15:10-11 Then Jesus called to the crowd to come and hear. “Listen,” he said, “and try to understand. It’s not what goes into your mouth that defiles you; you are defiled by the words that come out of your mouth.”

Example

21. 2 Kings 14:9-11 But King Jehoash of Israel replied to King Amaziah of Judah with this story: “Out in the Lebanon mountains, a thistle sent a message to a mighty cedar tree: ‘Give your daughter in marriage to my son.’ But just then a wild animal of Lebanon came by and stepped on the thistle, crushing it! “You have indeed defeated Edom, and you are very proud of it. But be content with your victory and stay at home! Why stir up trouble that will only bring disaster on you and the people of Judah?” But Amaziah refused to listen, so King Jehoash of Israel mobilized his army against King Amaziah of Judah. The two armies drew up their battle lines at Beth-shemesh in Judah.

Bonus

Matthew 7:3-5 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”