Xanthe Hancox

Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to [love] more and more, and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: you should mind your own business and 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 4:10b-12

Today’s verse is an exceptionally practical piece of Scripture. Instructing people to love each other more seems in keeping with what we’ve read so far in this letter, but why would Paul speak about work at this point? Most commentators agree that some believers in Thessalonica were so certain that Jesus was returning at any moment that they had stopped working altogether. And instead, they were being disruptive and meddling in other people’s business. And so, Paul gives the Thessalonians three practical instructions to live a balanced Christian life: live quietly, mind your own business, and work.

You might wonder what Paul could possibly know about trying to live a quiet life in 2015, but Thessalonica was a bustling, rowdy metropolis, and the Christians then made their lives just as complicated and full of frantic activity as we do today. God made us for simplicity and quietness, but we seldom feel any stillness or rest in our lives.

Furthermore, Paul tells us to mind our own business. We are to love one and care for one another, but we are not to meddle in their personal affairs. When we find ourselves telling others how to do their work and run their lives, it’s time to take a step back.

The last thing Paul instructs the Thessalonians to do is to work with their hands, and he isn’t being metaphorical or talking about dedicated ministry. He himself worked with his hands as a tentmaker whenever he could so that he could support himself while he preached the gospel. How we work is as crucial as how we pray. There is no greater testimony than the Christian mechanic in the workshop, the Christian teacher in the classroom, or the Christian accountant keeping the books.

Most of the time, winning the respect of non-Christians isn’t achieved by frantically ranting and raving. When we Christians show that our faith makes us better workers, truer friends, better neighbours, kinder men and women, then we are really preaching.

Prayer:  Lord Jesus, living a quiet, balanced life is often the hardest thing to do. Teach me to aspire to a life that isn’t frantic and meddlesome, but one that reflects you in all that I do. Amen.