Emphasis Preaching Journal

A professional lady, skilled in personnel relationships, appeared on a TV talk show before a live audience, to explain how to promote peaceful working conditions. Following her presentation there were questions from the listeners. One questioner, asking for advice, said she worked with a dozen other women in a common room of a large corporation. One member of the group, with much seniority, often roamed about the room distracting others by sitting at their desks and gossiping. They nicknamed her Ole Sit and Talk. "How can we politely tell her we are busy and not interested in her gossip," she asked, "without being rude?"

The guest speaker suggested when they see Ole Sit and Talk approaching their desks, they should stand up before she has a chance to sit. It will be a bit uncomfortable, the speaker explained, for her to gossip while standing, and if she sits and the interrupted person remains standing, that will be very awkward. She said that will be a clear sign you don't want to waste time and idly talk because you've got work to do.

In this reading, Paul shows he has little time for the meddlers and gossipers, which he calls busybodies. We unfortunately find the busybodies in our church congregations, wasting their own time and spreading negativism, while they erode the morale and cooperative spirit of others. A busy person is a joy and inspiration. The busybodies, in trying to be popular, are really a pain.