Have you ever been told to “mind your own business?" Usually, the phrase is used here in the United States to tell someone that they are meddling with things that don’t concern them, or even just that they are too interested in someone else’s affairs. But is there ever a time when we should mind someone else’s business?

I was reminded of this phrase when I read Paul’s letter to the Philippians. The apostle Paul pleads: “Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others” (Philippians 2:4).

Paul writes to Christians and begs them to please be united with one another and to love one another. And a part of that is, he writes, to look out for the interests of others, or--if you will--to mind each other’s business. Now, it is clear from the rest of the passage that Paul isn’t talking here about trying to pry into the secrets of someone’s life, or about trying to tell them what to do. Both of those things will earn a well-deserved, “Mind your own business!”

What he is saying is that, in response to Christ’s example and in submission to Him, we ought to be helping one another, and that looking out for one another will build unity and love. So how can we “mind each other’s business” appropriately?

Be interested. If we want to look out for someone else’s interests, we have to know that they have interests. If we don’t get to know the people around us, we can’t possibly recognize opportunities to help them. We have to choose to be present in others’ lives and to take an interest in what is important to them. Ask questions. Listen to how they describe their week, or a challenge they’re struggling with.

Be available. I don’t know anyone who isn’t busy. It can be easy to be so consumed in our own schedules that we have no time remaining to do anything for or with anyone else. If we want to mind someone else’s business, we have to leave some time in our own business to do so. Otherwise, even if we see the opportunity to further someone’s interests, we might leave ourselves unable to act.

Cultivate a mindset of abundance. Our world has a mindset of scarcity: There is only so much to go around, so I need to grab as much as I can, whether that be money or fame or power. Those who subscribe to that mindset see any advantage given to others as a negative, something that takes away from them. The opposite is a mindset of abundance: the idea that there will be plenty for everyone, and so we don’t have to scramble for our portion. Instead, we can rely on God to take care of our needs, which frees us to help other people with their needs. Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 9:8 go along with this: “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.” When we remember that it is God who takes care of us, our interests and others’ interests aren’t in competition.

Use your imagination. We live with our ideas and preferences every day, so it can be hard sometimes to remember that our likes, dislikes, and views might not be the same as our friends, family members, and fellow Church members. Being interested in others will help us to remember this, as will reading widely about other people, whether real or imaginary. But we can also use the power of our imagination to help us to look out for others. Try to really imagine what it’s like for them to do what they’re doing. Spending a little time in mentally trying on their shoes might help you to help them.

Ask God to show you what to do. Sometimes you’re just not sure who needs help. Sometimes, a situation seems too big for you to help with, or there are so many people with so many needs that you can’t even figure out where to start. Consider asking God to show you what you ought to do, or to help you to be where you need to be to help someone.

“Minding each other’s business” in the right way helps us to build a strong church community. When we look out for one another’s interests instead of only our own, love and unity grow; competition and loneliness shrink. Each of us can make choices that help make this possible, wherever we are.