Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody. (1 Thessalonians 4:11-12)
In chapter four, Paul reminds the Thessalonians of “how to live in order to please God” (4:1). Paul mentions four things in this chapter:
- Avoid sexual immorality (4:3-8).
- Love one another (4:9-10).
- Live a life of integrity and hard work (4:11-12).
- Encourage one another with the hope of Christ’s return and the defeat of death (4:13-18).
It was the third one that really stood out to me this morning. It is instruction from Paul that is often overlooked. How do we live a life that pleases God?
We are to pursue a “quiet” life. The Greek word for “quiet” is hesuchia. It does not emphasize so much the absence of words but rather the absence of inward strife, outward obstinance and excessive busyness. It describes a life of submission and simplicity. This is further amplified in Paul’s exhortation to “mind your own business.” Who would think that that phrase is in the Bible!? Christians are encouraged to avoid being “busybodies” (2 Thess 3:11). A busybody is one who thinks he has to know everything about what everybody else is doing. “Did you see what she did?” “What do you think about what he is doing?” “I can’t believe they did that.” Paul says mind your own business and focus on what you have to do in life.
Jesus told Peter the same thing in John 21. Upon seeing John, Peter asked Jesus, Lord, what about him? (21:21). In effect, Peter was asking, “I’ve heard Your plan for my life. Now, tell me, Lord, what is your plan for John’s life?” Jesus responded, If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow Me (21:22). In other words, Jesus says, “Get your eyes off John’s life. You don’t have the ability to evaluate or judge My plan for him. You worry about your own life and your responsibility to follow Me. I’ll take care of John.” I tell my kids a very similar thing all the time. “Don’t worry about what your brothers are supposed to do. I’ll take care of that. You do what you are supposed to do.” We all need that reminder, don’t we?
We are to pursue a life of hard work. Paul encourages the Thessalonians to work hard so that they are not “dependent on anybody.” Paul is not talking about an attitude of independence that isolates itself from others. He is talking about finances. We are to work hard so that we can provide for ourselves and our families. Work is a biblical responsibility from the first day of creation (Genesis 2:15). Laziness and soaking off others is not spirituality….it is laziness and soaking off others. Christians are called to help those in need but not to facilitate a life of laziness and irresponsibility in others. We need great wisdom to discern the difference.
Why do we live such a life of integrity and hard work? So that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders. Paul’s method of evangelism was simple. Live a life of integrity. Earn respect from others. And share the message as the opportunity arises. St. Francis got it correct when he said, “Preach the gospel at all times…if necessary, use words.” William Barclay’s commentary on 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 is also insightful: “The only way to demonstrate that Christianity is the best of all faiths is to show that it produces the best of all men. When we Christians show that our Christianity makes us better workmen, truer friends, kinder men and women, then we are really preaching. The outside world may never come into church to hear a sermon but it sees us every day outside church; and it is our lives which must be the sermons to win men for Christ.”
Lord, thank You for the reminder that living for You is not something complicated…it is living each day in purity and integrity, keeping my eyes on following You not on others, working hard, loving my brothers and sisters in Christ, and showing the world the difference that you have made in my life.