Pro 26:17 | KingComments | STEP | The man referred to in this verse is not a sluggard, but someone who is busy, only with the wrong things. The meddler is one who gets involved in matters that are none of his business. Someone who unsolicited “meddles with strife not belonging to him” is asking for trouble. It is as dangerous and foolish as taking “a dog by the ears” because the dog will bite you. It is not your dog, but a wild dog. You yourself will be harmed by your meddling and then you can only blame yourself. We find an example of this in the life of King Josiah, who meddled in a battle between the king of Egypt and his enemy. It cost him his life ( ). Peter still points out the great difference between suffering as a Christian and suffering because of meddling ( ). Shouldn’t we be peacemakers then? Isn’t that what we are called to be ( )? Certainly, we should be. Being peacemakers is an attitude of keeping peace with all people. It does not mean that a peacemaker will involve himself in a quarrel in which he is not involved. He will not imagine that he has to get involved in it without being asked for mediation or an instruction from the Lord to do so. We are not called to meddle in every disagreement. Nor did the Lord meddle in an argument about an inheritance ( )..

‏ Proverbs 26:17

The Meddler

The man referred to in this verse is not a sluggard, but someone who is busy, only with the wrong things. The meddler is one who gets involved in matters that are none of his business. Someone who unsolicited “meddles with strife not belonging to him” is asking for trouble. It is as dangerous and foolish as taking “a dog by the ears” because the dog will bite you. It is not your dog, but a wild dog. You yourself will be harmed by your meddling and then you can only blame yourself.

We find an example of this in the life of King Josiah, who meddled in a battle between the king of Egypt and his enemy. It cost him his life (2Chr 35:20-24). Peter still points out the great difference between suffering as a Christian and suffering because of meddling (1Pet 4:15-16).

Shouldn’t we be peacemakers then? Isn’t that what we are called to be (Mt 5:9)? Certainly, we should be. Being peacemakers is an attitude of keeping peace with all people. It does not mean that a peacemaker will involve himself in a quarrel in which he is not involved. He will not imagine that he has to get involved in it without being asked for mediation or an instruction from the Lord to do so. We are not called to meddle in every disagreement. Nor did the Lord meddle in an argument about an inheritance (Lk 12:14)..