Today’s Blog: Annoying Neighbors?
TODAY’S PROVERB: One who despises his neighbor lacks sense, but one with discernment remains silent. Proverbs 11:12, TLV
Have you noticed? There are a lot of people around us. And sometimes they aren’t very well behaved. They’re the ones with 25 items in the 10-item line at the grocery store, who cut us off in traffic, litter, don’t clean up their doggy poop. You know, all those annoying things strangers do.
What if those annoying people are in close proximity to us? Our neighbors? Co-workers? Not really friends or family, but people we see and perhaps interact with often? Ah, here is where the discernment comes into play.
It’s important to remember when it comes to folks who live or work around us that less is more. In other words, choose our battles. If we complain to or about them to others over every little thing, we set ourselves up for heartburn and a very unpleasant environment.
Likewise, if others come to us with their complaints, stay out of it! Be like Switzerland — stay neutral.
Unless the offenses or behaviors are truly dangerous, it’s best to keep silent and smile. It wouldn’t hurt to pray for them. Ask the LORD for discernment should an opportunity arise to talk with them. Lots of discernment. In the meantime, remain silent.
What if . . .
By the way, they may think we’re pretty annoying, too. Us? Yes, us! What if we’ve been doing something we don’t realize is hurtful to them? Then, of course, there is what Jesus said:
“Stop judging, so that you may not be judged. For with the judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
YESHUA, MATTHEW 7:1-5, TLV [EMPHASIS MINE]
“Why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the beam in your own eye? Or how will you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and look, the beam is in your own eye? Hypocrite, first take the beam out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.”
When we cover these frustrations in love and grace, amazing things can happen. You know what else works? Fresh-baked cookies.
Anyway, keeping silent will help us avoid at lot of unnecessary battles. And that’s a good thing.
May we be discerning in dealing with our neighbors, my friends.
Proverbs 11:12 Tree of Life Version – TLV, #tlvbible, #tlvproverbs
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