As a teacher, I like the notorious child who makes it his or her mission to right the wrongs of others. This child, often known as a tattletale, can be a teacher’s best informant when no one else is talking. At first, the information offered by the tattletale is appreciated, but when the tattletale doesn’t think that the teacher is handling the matter fast enough, things can get ugly. Many times in my teaching career, a tattletale has not only given me information about others, but they have also given me advice on how to handle the problem. More times than I can count, I have asked the student who does this the following question: “Who do you have to take care of in this class?” To which the student usually replies, “Just me.” To which I reply, “That’s right. It’s your job to take care of just you, and it’s my job to take care of everybody in the class.”
Don’t get me wrong, a tattletale can be helpful at times, but after a while it gets annoying because you begin to feel that the student doubts that you can control the class. That doubt can lead to frustration for the student and the teacher. If a student begins to doubt that the teacher will treat everyone in the class in a fair way, a lack of trust can soon develop.
Lately, things in my life have caused me some, shall we say, frustration. Sadly, I have realized that when I feel this way, I become just like that notorious child who wants to right the wrongs of others. I become…a tattletale. No, I do not waste time talking to any earthly chain of command to tattle. When I get fed up, I go straight to the One that I know can do something about it. I start telling God all about my problems. I give him all the details including names. I make everything clear to him about who did what to make me angry. I spill the beans giving him all the 411 on the situations that frustrate me. There is just one problem. God begins to interrupt my tattling with one question:
“Who do you have to take care of in this world?”
“Well, Lord, I am just trying to make sure you see what is happening here.”
God asks again, “Who do you have to take care in this world?”
“Now Lord, these people call themselves your children but just look at the selfishness and deceit. How long are you going to let this go on?”
“You are avoiding my question. Who do you need to take care of?”
“I’m just afraid somebody is going to slip something by you, Lord, and I don’t want that to happen.”
“Nothing slips by me. I see everything. Who do you have to take care of in this world?”
Finally, I know what I must say, “Me, Lord, I am only responsible for me.”
Like a good teacher, God reminds me that I am responsible only for myself while He is responsible for everybody. He can be trusted to deal with every single person in fair way. Nothing slips by him. Not only does God see a person’s actions, but he knows the motives and intent of a person’s heart.
In this world, I am only responsible for my life and how I live it. When I allow the actions of others to have a negative effect on my spirit, it decreases light in my life and breeds darkness. Darkness leads to doubt, distrust, and despair; things that I cannot afford to have in my thoughts. Plus, the Bible tells me to love others, and when I focus on the things that others do to cause frustration in my life, I cannot love them. So, after much whining, complaining, and repenting, I am going to hang up my tattling tail and stop worrying about telling God about others. He does not need my help or my added information. Not to mention, I’ve got enough to deal with just taking care of my own selfish self!
This week, if you are tempted to right the wrongs of others, remember, God has got this! He doesn’t need our help. When we feel the need to help Him out, instead of tattling on others, take care of yourself and live a life that brings real honor to Christ’s name. If we will do that, we will not have to worry about somebody else tattling on us! 😉
