Key Scripture:

“Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business…” 1 Thessalonians 4:11 NIV

I keep thinking about the capybara. This animal has mastered something many of us are still asking God to teach us:

How to mind our own business. 

The capybara is not running around the river asking:

“Who said that?”
“What happened?”
“Do you need me to call somebody?”
“Want me to fix it?”
“Send me the screenshots.” 😂

Nope.

It is over there drinking its water, enjoying its life, and capybara-ing.

Meanwhile, some of us hear about one problem and suddenly become FBI, CIA, counselor, intercessor, Uber driver, financial advisor, mediator, investigator, and Chief Burden Bearer. 😂

And then we wonder why we are exhausted.

Maybe the Lord is saying:

MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS.

Not because you do not care.

But because everything is not yours to carry.

Galatians 6:2 tells us:

“Carry each other’s burdens…”

But then Galatians 6:5 says:

“For each one should carry their own load.”

There are burdens people genuinely need help carrying.

And there are loads grown people need to carry themselves.

Discernment is knowing the difference.

Because if you keep jumping in to rescue, arrange, fix, cover, call, pay, explain, and clean up everything, people eventually learn:

“Why should I carry it? She will.”

Now they are sleeping beautifully…

…and you are up at 2:00 a.m. praying about a problem that they are not even awake worrying about. 😂

My Friend….

MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS.

Even Jesus had to tell Peter something similar.

In John 21, Peter started asking Jesus about John:

“Lord, what about him?”

Jesus answered:

“What is that to you? You must follow me.”
 John 21:21–22

Whew.

Jesus basically said:

“Peter… that is none of your business. You follow Me.” 😂

Some of us need that scripture taped to the refrigerator.

What is that to you?

What they are doing?
What they decided?
Why they did not listen?
How they are handling their life?

Sometimes the answer from God is simply:

“That is between Me and them. You follow Me.”

Minding your own business does not mean becoming cold or selfish.

It means learning to love people without taking over their responsibilities.

Sometimes stepping back is exactly what allows someone else to grow.

You cannot keep asking God for peace while constantly picking up weights He never handed you.

So today, take a lesson from the capybara.

Pray for people.
Love people.
Help when God tells you to help.

But stop automatically volunteering for every crisis that walks past you.

Some things require your hands.

Some things require your prayers.

And some things require you to smile lovingly and say:

“I believe in you. You got this.” 😂

Then go drink your water.

MIND. YOUR. OWN. BUSINESS.

 

Prayer

Father, give me discernment to know what You have called me to carry and what belongs to someone else. Forgive me for stepping into situations You never assigned to me and then becoming frustrated because I am overwhelmed. Teach me to love without enabling, help without controlling, and support without taking over. When I am tempted to rescue everyone, remind me that You are God and I am not. Help me focus on what You have called me to do, trust You with the people I love, and protect the peace You have given me.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

 

Reflection

1. What am I carrying right now that God may be asking me to put back in the hands of the person it belongs to?
2. Where is Jesus saying to me, “What is that to you? You follow Me”?