1 Thessalonians 4:9-12 – “But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; 10 and indeed you do so toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, that you increase more and more; 11 that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, 12 that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing.”  NKJV

            We all know that we are to ‘love one another’ and while we sometimes fail we know it is biblical.  It is easier to love some than others and often when we fail to demonstrate love we attempt to justify it and even deny that we have failed.  Paul’s counsel to the Thessalonian believers is certainly applicable for us today and is easily misunderstood and misapplied, in my view.

             He says that we should ASPIRE to lead a quiet life.  I had a person tell me that to accomplish that I had to cease virtually all socializing, sporting activities, and could never be involved in anything political.  Exactly how they arrived at that conclusion is still beyond my grasp but they did, were sincere and adamant that to lead a ‘quiet life’ we had to virtually become recluses and become so stoic in our view and approach to life that laughter and fun was somehow negative.  I suggested that may the next portion of the verse could be applied to their indictment and they did not appreciate that observation.  But I said it in love!   Well almost in love I was being very facetious and sarcastic and probably deviated from the love quotient.

             The Bible addresses ‘minding our own business’ by counseling against being ‘tattlers, gossips, trouble makers, and meddling in the affairs of others’.  That does not mean that we are to never insert our view, make a recommendation, or question some activity or action.  It does mean that we are to respect others realizing that their lives are largely between them and God and not our concern.  I stepped in once in a domestic dispute where there was physical violence and was told by both parties to ‘mind my own business’.  Yet, when I see someone in need it would not be minding my own business to ignore that.

             Paul says we are to ‘work with our own hands’ which is a clear and consistent directive that we are not to be moochers or willing to live on the dole.  In fact the Bible says that a person that ‘will not work’ should not be provided for even in giving them food.  The key is ‘will not’.  A person that is unable to work is a completely different story and someone the church is responsible for helping.

             He tells them and us that we are to walk or live properly before those outside or the unconverted or unbelievers.  As we walk circumspectly before them demonstrating a purity of life, civility, and Christian love we will find that we are better received and able to earn our livelihood with less hindrance and thereby find that we ‘lack nothing’.

             We are to manifest and represent Christ demonstrating His life to the church and the world.  My prayer is that as you go through this day you are able to lead a quiet life, not be viewed as meddlesome, productive, and be respected by those outside and inside the faith.  God bless and have a fantastic day!