“Make it your goal to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands, just as we instructed you before. Then people who are not believers will respect the way you live, and you will not need to depend on others.” (1 Thessalonians 4:11–12, NLT)
I once spoke to a member of a large church in North Carolina. We were at a wedding. He was family to the bride. I was there to see a friend get married. He didn’t know I was a pastor. I didn’t know what he did for a living. As we chatted, he mentioned that his church was very active in missions and outreach. Their services reached hundreds every Sunday. They had a TV ministry, where I am sure thousands could watch the worship services every Sunday morning. Their church service was a huge production. They even had a professional staff of sound technicians and video specialists. Their services contained special lighting and effects. The pastors could plan the service to its greatest effect. The member was proud of his church, which is wonderful. However, he commented that too many people keep their faith private. Just like his church, he believed they should be more public, more vocal, more visible on the internet and TV. He was critical of church people who did not speak openly about the faith wherever they went.
Now, while it is very important for Christians to have a public witness and to worship with others, the Christian life was not meant to be a public spectacle 24/7. There were times that Jesus preached to large crowds, as in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5. On the other hand, that same Jesus often went to be alone to pray, met with people privately at their homes, and had very important conversations with individuals such as the woman at the well. There were aspects of Jesus’ faith that were very public but also many other aspects that were very private.
Today’s scripture focuses on the private aspect of faith. Here in Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians, Paul taught that Christians in that church should “make it their goal to live a quiet life” (1 Thessalonians 4:11). Christians should not be nosy or publicly pushy and demanding. Instead, they should “mind their own business and work with their hands”. Paul wanted the Christians in that church to be independent souls who were honorable in their business dealings and did an honest day’s work, “not needing to depend on others”. By being faithful and hard-working and honest in their private lives, those Christians were to be an example to others. 1 Thessalonians 4:12 concluded that the goal of being hard-working, honest people was that “people who are not believers will respect the way you live”.
There is a place for public worship. However, for a majority of the time, your spiritual life will depend on you being honest and dependable and faithful in your everyday business dealings and private interactions. The Christian faith isn’t all about big worship productions and social media exposure. Most of the faithful life involves making honest and godly actions in all the little areas of your life. By being faithful and true and dependable and honest in the little things, your life will become an example for others to follow.
Not everybody can be a public spiritual leader who is on TV and leading others to faith through social media. But all Christians can be faithful in the small things like being honest and forthright and independent and truthful and trustworthy in the little interactions of their everyday living.
“SAINT FRANCIS of Assisi once invited a young monk to travel with him to town to preach. The young monk was honored by his offer, and together the two set out for the city. They walked up and down the streets greeting people as they went. They chatted with the peddlers, played with the children, and smiled at the citizens that passed by. After some time they returned to the abbey. The younger man seemed puzzled and said to Saint Francis, “You have forgotten, Father, that we went to town to preach.”
“My son,” he replied, “we have preached. We have been seen by many. Our behavior was closely watched. Our attitudes were closely measured. Our words have been overheard. It was by thus that we preached our morning sermon.”
Sometimes the best thing we can do to honor God is simply to live an honorable life. Too often we think that God expects us to change the world when he would be happy if we just changed our behavior. It doesn’t take a great man or woman to make a great impact on society. It just takes a respected one.
“This should be your ambition,” Paul writes to the Thessalonians, “to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands, just as we commanded you before. As a result, people who are not Christians will respect the way you live” (1 Thessalonians 4:11–12).
Do you want to make a difference in the world? Do you want to live a holy and pleasing life? Then be faithful to your spouse. Get to work on time, and do the best job that you can. Set an example in your neighborhood. Pay your bills on time. Live within your means. Help an elderly woman with her car. Don’t cheat on your taxes. Spend time with your children. Live with integrity and honesty. God is most pleased when unbelievers see him in the lives of believers. The world is most impressed with God when it sees his children living honorable lives.” (LaHaye and Jenkins, Embracing Eternity, p. 368)
Now, while it is very important for Christians to have a public witness and to worship with others, the Christian life was not meant to be a public spectacle 24/7. There were times that Jesus preached to large crowds, as in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5. On the other hand, that same Jesus often went to be alone to pray, met with people privately at their homes, and had very important conversations with individuals such as the woman at the well. There were aspects of Jesus’ faith that were very public but also many other aspects that were very private.
Today’s scripture focuses on the private aspect of faith. Here in Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians, Paul taught that Christians in that church should “make it their goal to live a quiet life” (1 Thessalonians 4:11). Christians should not be nosy or publicly pushy and demanding. Instead, they should “mind their own business and work with their hands”. Paul wanted the Christians in that church to be independent souls who were honorable in their business dealings and did an honest day’s work, “not needing to depend on others”. By being faithful and hard-working and honest in their private lives, those Christians were to be an example to others. 1 Thessalonians 4:12 concluded that the goal of being hard-working, honest people was that “people who are not believers will respect the way you live”.
There is a place for public worship. However, for a majority of the time, your spiritual life will depend on you being honest and dependable and faithful in your everyday business dealings and private interactions. The Christian faith isn’t all about big worship productions and social media exposure. Most of the faithful life involves making honest and godly actions in all the little areas of your life. By being faithful and true and dependable and honest in the little things, your life will become an example for others to follow.
Not everybody can be a public spiritual leader who is on TV and leading others to faith through social media. But all Christians can be faithful in the small things like being honest and forthright and independent and truthful and trustworthy in the little interactions of their everyday living.
“SAINT FRANCIS of Assisi once invited a young monk to travel with him to town to preach. The young monk was honored by his offer, and together the two set out for the city. They walked up and down the streets greeting people as they went. They chatted with the peddlers, played with the children, and smiled at the citizens that passed by. After some time they returned to the abbey. The younger man seemed puzzled and said to Saint Francis, “You have forgotten, Father, that we went to town to preach.”
“My son,” he replied, “we have preached. We have been seen by many. Our behavior was closely watched. Our attitudes were closely measured. Our words have been overheard. It was by thus that we preached our morning sermon.”
Sometimes the best thing we can do to honor God is simply to live an honorable life. Too often we think that God expects us to change the world when he would be happy if we just changed our behavior. It doesn’t take a great man or woman to make a great impact on society. It just takes a respected one.
“This should be your ambition,” Paul writes to the Thessalonians, “to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands, just as we commanded you before. As a result, people who are not Christians will respect the way you live” (1 Thessalonians 4:11–12).
Do you want to make a difference in the world? Do you want to live a holy and pleasing life? Then be faithful to your spouse. Get to work on time, and do the best job that you can. Set an example in your neighborhood. Pay your bills on time. Live within your means. Help an elderly woman with her car. Don’t cheat on your taxes. Spend time with your children. Live with integrity and honesty. God is most pleased when unbelievers see him in the lives of believers. The world is most impressed with God when it sees his children living honorable lives.” (LaHaye and Jenkins, Embracing Eternity, p. 368)