| “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,” – 1 Thessalonians 4:11 |
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| What are your ASPIRATIONS? There is no question that a Christian is to be living DIFFERENTLY and the 3 areas of aspiration found in 1 Thessalonians definitely convey living differently. Being very transparent I do not recall hearing many if any messages on 1 Thessalonians 4:11. And being very transparent I do not recall ever writing down on a priority sheet the three things that Paul has commanded to be priorities in my life. I do believe that as we DATE this verse we are going to see how profitable and practical these three areas of living will be for us and others. As we start our DATING, our getting to know this verse, we want to look first at the word ASPIRE. The KJV uses the word STUDY. The NASB and NIV use the word AMBITION. The NLT uses the word GOAL. All of these words help to guide us in understanding what we should be PURSUING. The Greek word conveys the idea of HONORING. To “aspire” is to demonstrate by actions what we LOVE TO HONOR. Paul says to the Thessalonians that these are three areas that need to be a TOP PRIORITY. These are not three suggestions for daily living. These are three top priorities for everyday living. With such a high priority, it is vitally important to LEARN how we live. First, Paul says, PURSUE a QUIET LIFE. (Do you have that on your To Do List?) A quiet life has the idea of peace or the absence of strife. Proverbs 17:1 “Better is a dry morsel with quietness, than a house full of feasting with strife.” We are not to go around STIRRING UP TROUBLE, stirring up strife. We are not to be CONTENTIOUS with one another. Romans 12:18 says, “If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.” 2 Corinthians 13:11 says, “….be of one mind, live in peace…” Romans 14:19 says, “Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another. This idea of pursuing quietness is so important that Paul will restate this command in 2 Thessalonians writing in 2 Thess. 3:12 says, “Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread. Do you pursue a QUIET LIFE, a PEACEFUL life, in your home, where you work, the church you attend, the team you are on, etc.? Leading a quiet life will see us ceasing to be contentious with one another and pursuing peace with one another. The Apostle Paul now steps on everyone’s toes as he commands us to MIND OUR OWN BUSINESS. We are not to be BUSYBODIES! We are not to be investigating what’s going on with others and then giving our unsolicited opinion. Proverbs teaches “He who passes by and meddles in a quarrel not his own is like one who takes a dog by the ears.” (Proverbs 26:17) Do you stick your “nose” WHERE IT DOES NOT BELONG? To lead the quiet life and not be in everyone else’s business Paul gives the third command, the third priority, in telling us to GET TO DOING OUR OWN WORK!! If one is busy with their own life, one will not have time to interfere with someone else’s life. Getting busy with our own business takes away time to be sticking our “noses” in someone else’s business. Getting up close and personal: Do you “stir up strife?” Do you stick your “nose” where it does not belong? Are you spending too much time in someone else’s business and not taking care of your own work? Maybe 1 Thessalonians needs to be a verse we memorize and put into action. BTW: Why do this? Verse 12 says, “Then people who are not Christians will respect the way you live, and you will not need to depend on others.” Verse to DATE the Word on April 11 (4/11) is 1 Thessalonians 4:11. It says, “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,” Continue Strong PURSUING the QUIET LIFE taking care of YOUR BUSINESS, And remember to DATE the Word |