Hello saints in Christ,
Today, let’s reflect on a simple yet profound exhortation regarding the attitude of Christians towards work and daily life:
“Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, attend to your own business, and work with your hands, just as we commanded you.”
— 1 Thessalonians 4:11
Towards the end of his letter to the Thessalonians, Paul urges them to love one another. He emphasizes that it is actually God Himself teaching them to love one another. This advice is part of Paul’s guidance on the lifestyle they ought to be living. He underscores that to live a proper Christian life that pleases God, we must begin by loving one another, effectively living out the second greatest commandment: to love our neighbors as ourselves.
“This is the great and foremost commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”
— Matthew 22:38-39
In 1 Thessalonians 4:11, Paul highlights a few practical aspects of a faithful Christian life:
1. Lead a Quiet Life
Paul tells the Thessalonians to “make it their ambition to lead a quiet life.” Here, a quiet life does not mean being silent all the time; rather, it suggests a life that is humble and peaceful. This phrase literally translates to “to be still.”
One commentator states: “This refers to one who does not present social problems or generate conflict among those in his life, but whose soul rests easy even in the midst of difficulty.”
A true Christian life is one that pursues peace and avoids unnecessary conflict. Proverbs 12:20 encapsulates this well:
“Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil, but counselors of peace have gladness.”
2. Mind Your Own Business
Paul advises the Thessalonians to mind their own business. Many issues can consume time and derail a Christian from focusing on what truly matters. Paul’s advice is to prioritize and focus on the things that matter in life.
In today’s world, we are bombarded with information through social media and news outlets. It’s easy for Christians to get sidetracked by the latest trends instead of focusing on building God’s kingdom and living a life that pleases Him. The point is not to be uninformed but to prioritize what matters.
Paul echoes this in his letters to the Colossians and Ephesians, urging them to “make the most of every opportunity” (Colossians 4:5) and to “redeem the time because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:16).
Time is a precious resource, a gift from God. As Christians, living for Christ means making the most of every opportunity to please God.
3. Work with Your Hands
Paul also instructs the Thessalonians to work with their hands. In their culture, manual labor was often seen as demeaning. However, Paul emphasizes the importance of being faithful in their work, recognizing that work is divinely ordained.
From the beginning, God instructed Adam to till the land (Genesis 2:15). Work is good and God-given. Unfortunately, laziness and dependency on others can become common. Paul warns against this, reminding us that the energy to work and generate wealth comes from God (Deuteronomy 8:18).
Christians should use their God-given strength to work hard and be a blessing to others.
The next verse explains why Paul insists on this behavior:
“So that you will walk properly toward outsiders and not be in any need.”
— 1 Thessalonians 4:12
If Christians lead a quiet life, mind their own business, and work with their hands, they can walk properly before outsiders and not be in need. This is crucial because our Christian lives impact our interactions with unbelievers. By living responsibly and independently, we can focus on sharing the gospel without being influenced by dependency.
Let us keep these principles in mind:
- We do not need to fight every battle; strive to lead quiet and peaceable lives.
- We need not be consumed by every headline; prioritize what matters and mind our own business.
- Working hard is a positive virtue; do not be lazy or sloppy in our work, remembering that God gives us the strength to work hard.
I pray that this word encourages us to lead quiet lives, mind our own business, and work hard with our hands.
Blessings, Paul.
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