Daily Devotions
1 Thessalonians
"Aspire to lead a quiet life..."
Text: 1 Thessalonians 4:11
RESPONSIBLE CHRISTIAN LIVING
Paul went on to encourage the Thessalonians to develop a responsible Christian lifestyle.
“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, that you may walk properly
toward those who are outside, and that you may
lack nothing.”
1 Thessalonians 4:11-12
1. “As we commanded you”
a) Paul and Silas gave clear instructions.
b) These were to be regarded as “commandments”.
2. Commandments
a) “That you also aspire”
i) The word “aspire” speaks of an ambition.
ii) Each one should have a strong sense of ambition or aspiration.
b) “To lead a quiet life”
i) To live peaceably.
ii) To live contentedly.
c) “To mind your own business”
i) Not to be a busybody, meddling in other people’s business.
ii) But to mind our own affairs.
d) “To work with your own hands”
i) This means getting a job.
ii) The believer is not a freeloader.
3. Reasons
a) “That you may walk properly toward those who are outside”
i) The world is ever watching our lifestyle.
ii) We must not give the world a reason to hurl accusations against us.
b) “And that you may lack nothing”
We will not lack anything if we were to work hard to make a living for ourselves. This is a relevant call for every believer to cultivate the practice of hard and diligent work to maintain a good testimony.