Overcoming the Busybody Syndrome

2 Thessalonians 3:11

For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.

Many friend relationships are destroyed because of busybodies. People will often meddle in another’s life or relationship only to hurt their friendship with that person. The busybody often has sincere motives, but because it is not their area, they hurt a relationship and destroy the trust that will often never be rebuilt.

Likewise, many churches are hurt by busybodies. One of the hardest works of a pastor is to keep the busybodies from hurting the Lord’s work. These busybodies often think they know better, but they end up hurting the work of God instead of helping it. Every church has busybodies, and they hurt the ability of the Gospel reaching the lost because of their meddling. Let me share several thoughts on how to overcome the busybody syndrome.

First, stay in your area. The word busybody means one that meddles or pries into something that is not their area. In reality, a busybody is like a robber; they break into another’s private life to take what they learned to spread to others so they can look good. Another’s private life is not your area. Likewise, another’s area of responsibility is not your area. The busybody is the Monday morning quarterback who picks apart what they think someone is doing wrong, even though they won't lift a finger to do something themselves. One of the easiest ways to stop being a busybody is to stay out of another’s area. If God wanted you to have that area, He would have given it to you. Stay in your own area, and being a busybody will never be your problem.

Second, stop being a know-it-all. Busybodies are know-it-alls who really don't know much at all. Oh, they think they know, but they don't. There is little help for a busybody because they think they are the expert in every area, even though they are not doing anything at all.

Third, let the Holy Spirit do His work. This is one of the greatest keys to avoiding being a busybody. The Holy Spirit will always do a better work in the lives of people than you will. You must stop being the spiritual policeman who tickets everyone with your unsolicited advice of what they need to do and let the Holy Spirit work in their lives; He will always do a better job than you will.

Fourth, get busy working in the ministry. The only reason someone is a busybody is because they are not busy doing something for God that they need to do. You can stay out of another’s business by staying busy serving the Lord. If you have time to meddle in somebody else’s business, then you are not busy enough serving the Lord. When you get so busy working for God, you will find that you won't have time to worry about what others are doing. The key to knowing that you are not busy enough in the ministry is when you find yourself having time to critique everyone else.

Fifth, bring what you think another person needs to do to God in prayer. I have found God is better at working in the hearts of individuals than I am. Therefore, if I bring what I believe others need to do to Him, He can do the work on the heart of another much better than I will ever do by being a busybody. My prayer is often a prayer of God correcting the wrong of either me or the other person. What I have found is that God often corrects me. The best way to meddle in another’s life for good is in prayer.