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1 Thessalonians 4:9-12
Last time Paul told us the will of God. The will of God was that we be sanctified, or set apart for God’s purpose or use. In other words we belong to God, not this world. He instructed us on the need to control our own urges to satisfy our lust so that we would be different than those that didn’t know God’s will. He wanted us to refrain from sexual activity outside of marriage. Today, Paul continues to teach the church at Thessalonica God’s instructions or will for their lives.
Questions:
- Are you a peaceful quite Christian?
- Do you mind your own business or get caught up in gossip?
9 But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.
10 And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more;
11 And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;
12 That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.
Paul begins to tell us a little more about how we can please God and how we should walk each day before others. He again speaks of the love this church has for each other and for others outside the church. Their love for each other and for others in the community is what is making this church so successful. Although they are showing love for others, it isn’t enough. In other words we can never show enough love for others. I believe that is why Paul referred to their love in chapter 1 as a labor of love. It was exhausting work. Paul wants them to increase their love for each other and for those in the community. I think it is interesting that he writes this after speaking about lust and keeping ourselves pure in a sexual sense before others. Many people confuse lust and love. Lust is selfish and seeks pleasure for a moment. Love is given to others and is primarily for the benefit of another. Lust satisfies itself and love serves another.
Jesus of course showed us love and asked us to show others that same love. We have been commanded to do so. What is your definition of love? I know what God says on the matter. Today, you might want to read 1 Corinthians 13. Compare of you love others with this passage, and see if you need to increase more and more. I believe if you are loving people the way Jesus wants us to, then others will know you are a follower of Jesus and you will be exhausted.
Paul then tells us three other things that God wants us to do. He wants them to strive to be quite or live a quiet life. In other words live peaceably within society.
He also wants them to mind their own business. Wow that is a big one. I think I hear more gossip in churches than I do any other place.
The last thing Paul asks is that they work. The idea is that if you are able to work you should. The Greeks looked down on manual labor, so maybe some of the new Christians thought it wasn’t right to work. Or it could be that since they thought the Lord was returning soon, they just stopped working. The message is …don’t be idle. Do something.
Why do we concern ourselves with loving others, keeping ourselves set apart for God, being quiet, minding our business and keeping busy? Well verse 12 tells us. It is about our walking testimony. It is about how society sees us. We want to live differently than the world. We want people to notice that we don’t rely on others to provide for us, or that we don’t gossip, or that we live peaceable lives. God asks us to live for Him for our own good, but also for the good of others. It isn’t good enough to say you are a Christian, but not live like God wants us to live. Some people have a hard time telling others about their faith. Although we should all be bold enough to tell others about Jesus, living before them the right way might get others asking you why you are so different.
We have to be different. Can people tell the difference between you and the rest of the world? Our lives may be the only sermon some people ever hear.