“Like the one who seizes a dog by the ear is a passer-by who meddles in a quarrel not their own.”
– Proverbs 26:17
You may not have ever watched it, and if you haven’t you will be as surprised as I am about this, but the show, Keeping up with the Kardashians, aired for 20 seasons – 20!
There’s something that is so appealing about peeking in on other people’s drama – hence why reality TC is so popular now – KUWTK running for 14 years proves it.
Now to the drama in our own lives…
It’s hard to resist when someone wants to share some juicy gossip with us about someone else – or we want to share about others – but a good rule of thumb that we can follow comes from the Bible.
“Don’t let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”
– Ephesians 4:29
Asking how we can be a help to others according to their needs is much more satisfying than any drama on TV or in our friends’ lives.
I like the interpretation of this verse that simply says, “When you stick your nose into other peoples business that doesn’t concern you, you are going to get bit”
The Hebrew origin of ‘he who passes by and meddles’, is actually one word. It means pass, to cross a line, overstepping rightful place. ‘Passing by’, means you were not the originator of the situation, you simply came upon, or across it. (And decided to throw yourself in the mix)
In Solomons days, dogs were not typically family pets, they were wild, loose scavengers, and if you poked, pulled or prodded one, you would get bit, or worse!
So Solomon is saying to stay out of other peoples quarrels, arguments (strife), cuz like teasing a dog (which you also should not do!) it will turn on you.