A Drama Queen Fights Fights That Aren’t Hers
“Whoever meddles in a quarrel not his own is like one who takes a passing dog by the ears” (v. 17).
- When your siblings are fighting and you feel the need to jump in to defend one sib or another . . .
- When two friends are duking it out on social media and you join the fray by taking sides and commenting . . .
- When two public figures are fighting and you decide who is right and who is wrong . . .
You are making a dangerous move, just like grabbing a stray dog by the ears. On the flip side, the Bible does encourage us to be peacemakers (Matt. 5:9). When two people you know are in conflict, force yourself to ask this question: “What can I do to facilitate peace?” Here are two fail-safe answers:
- Pray like crazy for God to bring reconciliation.
- Take every opportunity to encourage both parties to act humbly, consider the needs of others above their own, and fight for unity.
A Drama Queen Tells Mean Jokes
“Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, ‘I’m only joking!’” (vv. 18–19).
We often try to gloss over our mean words and cutting remarks in the name of good humor. But making fun of other people is never funny to the target of that kind of humor. Think of a time when you were the butt of a joke. See what I mean? Not funny. Avoid being a drama queen by refusing to tell jokes at someone else’s expense.
A Drama Queen Stokes the Fire
“For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisper, quarreling ceases” (v. 20).
If you don’t add wood to the fire, eventually it will cease to burn. The same is true with drama. When we refuse to add fuel to the fire of conflicts with gossip, eventually the drama dies down. Here are some sentence starters that are red flags for gossip and favorites among drama queens.
- Did you hear about . . . ?
- Do you know what _______ told me?
- Did you see what she put on Facebook?
- She told me not to tell anyone, but . . .
A Drama Queen Secretly Hates
“Whoever hates disguises himself with his lips and harbors deceit in his heart” (v. 24).
Being a drama queen doesn’t just show up in the way we talk. In fact, the roots of the problem burrow deep into our hearts. If you are someone who is prone to bitterness, anger, resentment, and even hatred, that will eventually bubble up to cause conflict, even if you try to gloss it over with sweet words. Avoiding drama takes more than just a sugar-coated tongue, we need hearts that are slow to anger and quick to forgive. Only Jesus can do that kind of heart transplant. If you are covering over hatred, ask Him to do that work in your heart.
A Drama Queen Lies
“A lying tongue hates its victims, and a flattering mouth works ruin” (v. 28).
I’m sure you’ve heard the old saying, “What a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive.” Lying has a way of creating a web of drama and struggle. Lying will inevitably cause hurt feelings, ruined trust, and strained relationships. If you want to avoid being a drama queen, refuse to lie (even little “white lies”) and acknowledge that lying will “work ruin” in your relationships.
Do you spot yourself anywhere in these verses? In what areas do you need God to change your heart and actions to help you avoid drama and create peace?
