Mind Your Own Business - 11/4/10
Mind your own Business
Continuing on the theme of sanctification and practical Christian living in holiness, Apostle Paul gives further instructions to the Thessalonians on loving other believers, not being an idle busybody but rather working hard to contribute to the good of the society.
In the last study, we understood that God’s will for the Thessalonians (and for us today) is to be sanctified. One area that required immediate attention for the Thessalonians (and for us today) was dealing with sexual immorality and cultivating the discipline of controlling one’s own body since our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit. Sexual sin (which is any behavior to satisfy/gratify sexual desires outside of marriage) is actually sin against God and against one’s own body (1 Corinthians 6:18). It is a command for purity both for the married and unmarried and Jesus said, even our lustful thoughts can get us into this category of sin. Someone said, “Satan’s not-very-subtle strategy is often to do all he can to encourage sex outside of marriage and to discourage sex in marriage”.
Today’s, study will focus on the command to continue and to abound more in loving one another and minding our business to the glory of God. Are you minding your own business? Borrowing from the U.S Marines, “Are you being all you can be” in Christ?
1 Thessalonians 4:1-12
1 As for other matters, brothers and sisters, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. 2 For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.
3 It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; 4 that each of you should learn to control your own body[a] in a way that is holy and honorable, 5 not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God; 6 and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister.[b] The Lord will punish all those who commit such sins, as we told you and warned you before. 7 For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. 8 Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit.
9 Now about your love for one another we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. 10 And in fact, you do love all of God’s family throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more, 11 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, 12 so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.
Here are my observations in addition to the ones you may have:
1. God gives us His Holy Spirit (vs.8) once we put out trust in Him and in His Son Jesus Christ. As a result, the work of sanctification (letting the Holy One live through us) is the work of the Holy Spirit. This is why we are instructed to “walk in the Spirit” or ‘be in step with the Spirit” and we will not gratify the desires of the flesh. Galatians 5: 16-26. Those who do not walk in the spirit produce flesh (sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like) and those who walk in the Spirit produce the fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control).
2. Paul acknowledged the love of the Thessalonians but encouraged them to abound more (vs.9) because we cannot love enough. Notice that it is God who teaches us to love because God is love. We learn to love from God because He first loved us by demonstrating it through Jesus’ death on our behalf. Jesus died to self therefore we must die to self in loving others. “We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death… Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth”. 1John 3:14-18
3. Next, Apostle Paul gives the Thessalonians surprising command to “make it your ambition to lead a quiet life” vs. 11. He wants us to aspire and have ambition for a quiet life. Could Paul mean being quiet to be able to listen and hear from the Holy Spirit and be in a reflective mood to obey? It could also mean not living flamboyantly so that all will notice us. I believe it means all of those including living to be at peace with oneself and with others. We live in an age of noise and entertainment where people get bored if there is “nothing” going on to stimulate and excite us. This command also reminds me of the scripture, “Be still and know that I am the Lord”. Can you be still for a minute? May the peace of God rule our hearts and minds, Amen. Don’t look for the next excitement and entertainment. Let’s be satisfied and content in what God has given us including our circumstances.
4. When we are not living “quiet lives” we cannot be minding our own business. Paul told the Thessalonians, “Mind your own business” vs.11. This is faith in action. When we put our trust and faith in God, we can mind our own business. We can focus on the things God has called us to and leave alone the things He has not called us to. It means we can trust God in doing what He has called us to do even when we do not understand it all. It is being faithful to God and being accountable for all the gifts He has endowed us. You and I will only answer to God for what He has assigned to us and not what He has assigned to someone else. Therefore we must “mind our business” and let others do and act out faith in God for themselves.
5. When we forget this principle of “Minding our business” we become what Apostle Peter calls “busybodies”. Busybodies can cause damaging problems in relationships. In our day, gossip is the best example of being a busybody. Meddling into other peoples affairs especially when un-invited. Minding our business does not mean not caring for others but caring enough to let them be themselves in Christ. We all laugh about stories of mother-in-laws who meddle in their children’s marriages. Unfortunately, some have destroyed marriages. Are you a meddler or busybody, please stop and mind your own business.
6. A meddler often has too much time in his/her and would rather talk than “work with his own hand” vs.11. In the case of the Thessalonians, there are possibly three factors that may have necessitated this warning and instruction from Paul. The first is that some new believers may be taking advantage of other believers in this new environment/atmosphere of love of one another. In other words, because of the command to love one another, some may miss-understand it and become free loaders; after love will accommodate it. The second reason is actually cultural. It is said, “Manual labor was despised by ancient Greek culture. They thought that the better a man was, the less he should work”; so Paul’s instruction was to correct this error in thinking and behavior. God made work and work is honoring to God. That is why Paul in the second letter to the Thessalonians says, “If you do not work, you should not eat”. Remember Paul also taught this work ethic by example – “our labor and toil” (1 Thessalonians 2:9). He worked with his hands to make a living.
7. The third possible reason for the instruction to “work with your own hand” was to correct error in doctrine about the second coming of Jesus Christ. Some believed it was so imminent, thus no need to work. Let’s just sit and wait for Jesus return. We will get into the teaching on Christ return later in more detail in the letter.
8. In our present day, there are some who fall in the above category regarding work. In other words, they do not want to work even though they are able to. But we must acknowledge the many right now that are out of job and wanting to work and cannot find work. To all who are looking for job, we pray for God’s provision. We also pray and encourage a willingness to take on any job that would help put food on the table no matter how menial.
9. The World is watching us. “So that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody” vs.12. By our love for one another, they will know we are followers of Christ. By our work too, they will know we trust in God. Unfortunately, this is often not the case. I have seen Christians who have the worst work testimony and who cannot be trusted and counted on for their work ethic. They are busybodies trying to “win people to their Christ” instead of working to show faithfulness to the employer. If this is you, please stop and repent because you are driving people away from God. May our words match our deeds.
Are you minding your own business in your marriage, and in all your relationships at work, school, neighborhood and etc? When we mind our own business, there will be less divorce and havoc in our homes and in all our relationships. Do you know the “state of your flock” so you can be diligent in what God has called you to? Are you trying to control others instead of exercising “self-control”? You major in telling others what to do and minor in what you ought to do? Are you trusting in God and living a “quiet life” so you can mind your own business? Are you walking in step with Spirit? Do you see yourself sometimes not minding your own business? I do and I repent and ask God to forgive me. Lord, help me to love the brothers and sisters but to mind my own business. Amen.
Continuing on the theme of sanctification and practical Christian living in holiness, Apostle Paul gives further instructions to the Thessalonians on loving other believers, not being an idle busybody but rather working hard to contribute to the good of the society.
In the last study, we understood that God’s will for the Thessalonians (and for us today) is to be sanctified. One area that required immediate attention for the Thessalonians (and for us today) was dealing with sexual immorality and cultivating the discipline of controlling one’s own body since our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit. Sexual sin (which is any behavior to satisfy/gratify sexual desires outside of marriage) is actually sin against God and against one’s own body (1 Corinthians 6:18). It is a command for purity both for the married and unmarried and Jesus said, even our lustful thoughts can get us into this category of sin. Someone said, “Satan’s not-very-subtle strategy is often to do all he can to encourage sex outside of marriage and to discourage sex in marriage”.
Today’s, study will focus on the command to continue and to abound more in loving one another and minding our business to the glory of God. Are you minding your own business? Borrowing from the U.S Marines, “Are you being all you can be” in Christ?
1 Thessalonians 4:1-12
1 As for other matters, brothers and sisters, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. 2 For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.
3 It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; 4 that each of you should learn to control your own body[a] in a way that is holy and honorable, 5 not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God; 6 and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister.[b] The Lord will punish all those who commit such sins, as we told you and warned you before. 7 For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. 8 Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit.
9 Now about your love for one another we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. 10 And in fact, you do love all of God’s family throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more, 11 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, 12 so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.
Here are my observations in addition to the ones you may have:
1. God gives us His Holy Spirit (vs.8) once we put out trust in Him and in His Son Jesus Christ. As a result, the work of sanctification (letting the Holy One live through us) is the work of the Holy Spirit. This is why we are instructed to “walk in the Spirit” or ‘be in step with the Spirit” and we will not gratify the desires of the flesh. Galatians 5: 16-26. Those who do not walk in the spirit produce flesh (sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like) and those who walk in the Spirit produce the fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control).
2. Paul acknowledged the love of the Thessalonians but encouraged them to abound more (vs.9) because we cannot love enough. Notice that it is God who teaches us to love because God is love. We learn to love from God because He first loved us by demonstrating it through Jesus’ death on our behalf. Jesus died to self therefore we must die to self in loving others. “We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death… Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth”. 1John 3:14-18
3. Next, Apostle Paul gives the Thessalonians surprising command to “make it your ambition to lead a quiet life” vs. 11. He wants us to aspire and have ambition for a quiet life. Could Paul mean being quiet to be able to listen and hear from the Holy Spirit and be in a reflective mood to obey? It could also mean not living flamboyantly so that all will notice us. I believe it means all of those including living to be at peace with oneself and with others. We live in an age of noise and entertainment where people get bored if there is “nothing” going on to stimulate and excite us. This command also reminds me of the scripture, “Be still and know that I am the Lord”. Can you be still for a minute? May the peace of God rule our hearts and minds, Amen. Don’t look for the next excitement and entertainment. Let’s be satisfied and content in what God has given us including our circumstances.
4. When we are not living “quiet lives” we cannot be minding our own business. Paul told the Thessalonians, “Mind your own business” vs.11. This is faith in action. When we put our trust and faith in God, we can mind our own business. We can focus on the things God has called us to and leave alone the things He has not called us to. It means we can trust God in doing what He has called us to do even when we do not understand it all. It is being faithful to God and being accountable for all the gifts He has endowed us. You and I will only answer to God for what He has assigned to us and not what He has assigned to someone else. Therefore we must “mind our business” and let others do and act out faith in God for themselves.
5. When we forget this principle of “Minding our business” we become what Apostle Peter calls “busybodies”. Busybodies can cause damaging problems in relationships. In our day, gossip is the best example of being a busybody. Meddling into other peoples affairs especially when un-invited. Minding our business does not mean not caring for others but caring enough to let them be themselves in Christ. We all laugh about stories of mother-in-laws who meddle in their children’s marriages. Unfortunately, some have destroyed marriages. Are you a meddler or busybody, please stop and mind your own business.
6. A meddler often has too much time in his/her and would rather talk than “work with his own hand” vs.11. In the case of the Thessalonians, there are possibly three factors that may have necessitated this warning and instruction from Paul. The first is that some new believers may be taking advantage of other believers in this new environment/atmosphere of love of one another. In other words, because of the command to love one another, some may miss-understand it and become free loaders; after love will accommodate it. The second reason is actually cultural. It is said, “Manual labor was despised by ancient Greek culture. They thought that the better a man was, the less he should work”; so Paul’s instruction was to correct this error in thinking and behavior. God made work and work is honoring to God. That is why Paul in the second letter to the Thessalonians says, “If you do not work, you should not eat”. Remember Paul also taught this work ethic by example – “our labor and toil” (1 Thessalonians 2:9). He worked with his hands to make a living.
7. The third possible reason for the instruction to “work with your own hand” was to correct error in doctrine about the second coming of Jesus Christ. Some believed it was so imminent, thus no need to work. Let’s just sit and wait for Jesus return. We will get into the teaching on Christ return later in more detail in the letter.
8. In our present day, there are some who fall in the above category regarding work. In other words, they do not want to work even though they are able to. But we must acknowledge the many right now that are out of job and wanting to work and cannot find work. To all who are looking for job, we pray for God’s provision. We also pray and encourage a willingness to take on any job that would help put food on the table no matter how menial.
9. The World is watching us. “So that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody” vs.12. By our love for one another, they will know we are followers of Christ. By our work too, they will know we trust in God. Unfortunately, this is often not the case. I have seen Christians who have the worst work testimony and who cannot be trusted and counted on for their work ethic. They are busybodies trying to “win people to their Christ” instead of working to show faithfulness to the employer. If this is you, please stop and repent because you are driving people away from God. May our words match our deeds.
Are you minding your own business in your marriage, and in all your relationships at work, school, neighborhood and etc? When we mind our own business, there will be less divorce and havoc in our homes and in all our relationships. Do you know the “state of your flock” so you can be diligent in what God has called you to? Are you trying to control others instead of exercising “self-control”? You major in telling others what to do and minor in what you ought to do? Are you trusting in God and living a “quiet life” so you can mind your own business? Are you walking in step with Spirit? Do you see yourself sometimes not minding your own business? I do and I repent and ask God to forgive me. Lord, help me to love the brothers and sisters but to mind my own business. Amen.
Comments