Msgr. Seth Osei-Agyemang
 |
MYOB is not just a computer software package for businesses – it is a life principle. MYOB – Mind Your Own Business.
Too many are worried about how someone else is living their life instead of building their own life. At the start I touched on the fact that a life is built – it is a journey of growth to maturity – many do not reach maturity because nosey is a dwarf that stunts our growth – many don’t reach maturity because instead of building their own life they are busy monitoring, critiquing, commentating and evaluating the journey of others. More concerned with what is happening in someone elses back yard than their own.
Jesus spoke about this in Matthew 7 when He said: “And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?”
Nosey is a dwarf in our life because it is pre-occupied and overly concerned with other peoples progress but to the neglect of our own life.
Hebrews 12 tells us that we are to run with endurance the race that is set before US – not the race that is set before another – the race that is set before us – we each have a race to run and will never finish the race as Paul speaks of in 2 Timothy when he says: ‘I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race’ if we are consumed with what everyone else is doing.
Imagine in the Olympics if in the 100m sprint the leader of the race was to stop to turn around and check out how the rest of the guys were going or if he was to stop and see how the long jumper was performing – he would be overtaken and not finish the race that he was created and destined to finish. Each one of us has been graced to run our race and it is wise to stay within the sphere that God has anointed us to live in.
There is something about staying within the boundaries of where God has called you – its in that place where God’s grace flows – in that place you have faith for your own world – you are ordained to be fruitful there. . When we start to stick our nose in other people’s territory we neglect our own field and we have no business over there – God has not ordained us to be in that. I’m not saying we shouldn’t be concerned for people but I’ve noticed that nosey people can tend to be gossips – they are looking for inconsistencies – they are ready to bare a tale – re-tell a story – they are eager to dramatise and fantasise and they become emotionally involved – and all of this energy – all this resource is wasted because nosey people while they are enjoying hearing a problem they often don’t have a solution and so you have no place of being there.
The reason they have no answers is because it is not their sphere of influence. We would do well to guard and have a sober judgement and stay out of other peoples’ business. By addressing the issues in our own life it equips us to help others that are facing similar problems. Have you ever experienced that?
Nosey is a dwarf which will hinder our progress and it will damage personal friendships. Proverbs says to be careful how often you go to your neighbour’s house lest you become unwelcome. Proverbs also says a whisperer separates the best of friends. Let’s be careful not to be nosey – let’s know our sphere and our boundaries in our friendships. Nosey is a dwarf that needs to be evicted from our lives.
Phony
No one I have not met, likes fakes. We prefer honesty and we gravitate to integrity. Leaders with integrity will always build great nations and churches because people gravitate to honesty and integrity like a moth to a flame.
Psalm 27:11 - Teach me how to live, O LORD. Lead me along the path of honesty, for my enemies are waiting for me to fall.
The Psalmist here recognises honesty as one of the greatest life principles – teach me how to live O LORD and as you do that lead me on a path called honesty Great friendships are built by authentic people who are real, open and honest with each other – it’s the foundation of every great marriage. Open, authentic, vulnerable, real, honest communication builds a great foundation in a relationship intimacy is built out of that. It is a great building block and a launching pad for life.
A church that grows in number and influences its community will be led by leaders with integrity who lead people who are honest and authentic and share real answers to real problems out in the real world.
This is how we build our team here – on those who are real – open – honest and authentic. If we can have this as a value – a DNA – not just in the church but in our personal lives we will not be dwarfed and shrunk and pushed down to little mode but we will expand and increase and have dominion in every area of life.
Conclusion
As it is in human relationships so it is with God. God requires honesty from us. You can’t wear a mask with God – you can try but he sees beyond the mask – the Bible teaches us that He doesn’t look at us on the outside but He looks on the inside.
All of us are on a journey of growth toward maturity in God where we are fully grown and lacking in nothing. Along the road, there are attitudes, behaviours and mindsets that act to dwarf us and keep us little but as we measure our lives against Christ, we can evict the dwarfs and continue along the journey growth and get to a place of maturity.
The place of maturity is the place where we have authority and dominion over the dwarfs that set out to limit and hold us back. I would love to pray – if any of these dwarfs are active in your life, then today is eviction day!
Worry, Angry, Stingy, Lazy, Tiny, Nosey and Phony
More News... |
