Should I investigate things about other people?

Proverbs 25:2 says, “It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; to search out a matter is the glory of kings.” Is it arrogant to investigate things about others since we are not a king? 

Proverb 25, as is noted in verse one, was written by King Solomon and copied by the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah, some years later. King Solomon inherited the throne of his father King David of Israel when he was but a young man. Because he felt he was not qualified to carry out his duties as king he asked God for wisdom. “So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong.” (1 Kings 3:9) God was very pleased with Solomon’s request and granted him “a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be.” (1 Kings 3:12) 

With the above information in mind, we can readily understand the great responsibility that was placed upon Solomon as well as on the future kings of Israel and Judah. The honor of kings was to steer the ship of state. “For lack of guidance a nation falls, but many advisors make victory sure.” (Proverbs 11:14) It was the king’s duty to search out matters that concerned the physical and spiritual well being of his people. Unfortunately, many of Judah’s kings and all of Israel’s kings failed miserably in their responsibility. 

Is it ok to investigate matters about others since you are not a king? Would such an investigation be testing God? 

If you truly have faith in God and in his workings in your life, you will trust Him to reveal what you need to know (not what you personally want to know) about another at the proper time, if that information is indeed relevant to your growth as a Christian. It is important to note that one should never pursue information about another for merely intellectual curiosity or to place blame. Rather than focus on the behavior of others, we should focus on developing our own characters, as modeled after our master, Jesus. 

Jesus said, “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” (Luke 6:27-28) 

“Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.” (Luke 6:36-37)

 If we put these teachings into practice, we will be doing the will of God so that we will be able to “approach the throne of grace with confidence so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16) “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.” (1 John 5:14-15) 

Should you investigate matters about other people that involve you? We believe it would be much more prudent to pray about these matters and leave the outcome to God’s perfect judgment.

For more on judging others listen to, “Is it Ever Right to Judge Your Brother?”