INTRODUCTION

Meddling in another’s problems is a dangerous practice. In order to present the danger in understandable terms, the Bible uses two comparisons. In Proverbs 17:14The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.
See All..., meddling is compared to the letting out of water that had previously been restrained. The idea is that meddling with the problems of another is akin to personally opening gates that restrained a large body of water. The second comparison is found in Proverbs 26:17He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.
See All... where the Bible says, "He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears." Both of these warnings demonstrate the great danger involved in meddling in the affairs of others unnecessarily.

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS

• (For smaller children) God told Rebekah the family leader would be Jacob, the younger twin, even before the twins were born (Genesis 25:22-26 [22] And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to enquire of the LORD. [23] And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger. [24] And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb. [25] And the first came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they called his name Esau. [26] And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau's heel; and his name was called Jacob: and Isaac was threescore years old when she bare them.
  See All...). When it looked as though Isaac would bless Esau, she meddled by tricking Isaac into blessing Jacob. Jacob had to run for his life, and never saw his mother again (Genesis 27).
• What would happen if you personally opened a gate to let water out that had previously been restrained? What could happen if you went up and grabbed a dog by the ears? How does this give a vivid presentation of the dangers of meddling?
• In whose problems are you currently meddling? Are you willing to ask the Lord to help you repent of this dangerous practice?

PRAYER NEEDS

• Thank God for the warnings about meddling.
• Ask God for wisdom to cease from meddling.

HYMN

Nothing Between

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