Some people enjoy reading fiction. I'm a voracious reader, but if I'm honest, I probably read a book of fiction maybe once every five years. Somewhere along the way, I realized it doesn't hold my attention like other genres. My favorite genres to read tend to fall into the categories of history, biography, and "how-to." I'm fascinated by reading about the lives of interesting people, and trying to glean wisdom from their examples and their teaching.
Recently, I started reading three books right around the same time. One had to do with pastoral ministry and the counsel the author was able to share based on his years in the pulpit. Another book chronicled the author's family history and how he was able to establish his business. The third book was an overview of stewardship principles that the author learned through trail and error over the course of four decades. Even though these books cover different subjects, they all do a good job of allowing the reader to gain a better glimpse into how the authors chose to live their lives.
I read books like these partly because the subjects interest me, but also because I truly want to grow in wisdom. Since I became a Christian, one of the most frequent things I have requested from the Lord is wisdom, and He has shown me that there's a lot of wisdom to be gained from observing lives that are lived well. In life, it's wise for me to learn from my mistakes, but sometimes I think it's just as wise (maybe even wiser) for me to learn from the experiences and mistakes of others. That way, I can save myself from needless pain.
From time-to-time, the Lord will allow you to meet or observe some people who really seem to have their act together. The best examples tend to follow a pattern that demonstrates the fact that Jesus is on the forefront of their lives.
There also seems to be a general way in which their faith in Christ is lived out. That's precisely what Paul describes in 1 Thessalonians 4:9-12. In fact, I think he shows us at least four aspirations that tend to be shared by those who have their life together.
I. Love others deeply
“Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another, 10 for that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more, ”
One of the most obvious aspirations that the Lord tends to place upon the hearts of growing Christians is the aspiration to love as they have been loved. If you've come to know Christ, you've observed, contemplated, and experienced the depth of His love for you. You've seen how His love works. You've reflected on the depth of Christ's selfless sacrifice on your behalf. And as a recipient of Christ's love, it becomes your aspiration to show His love to others.
It appears from Paul's words that the Thessalonians were excelling in this area. In fact, even though he addressed this topic in his letter, he said they really didn't need anyone to write to them about it because it was clear that God was teaching them to do this through the indwelling presence of His Holy Spirit. What a wonderful thing for a local church to be known for. Every local church should be known for this.
But this was something Paul wanted them to continue to prioritize as time went on. He encouraged this loving church to love "more and more" as time progressed. Keep in mind that he wasn't merely asking them to develop a warm, sentimental affection for each other. The kind of love he was speaking of involved sacrificially serving one another and placing the needs of others over their own, just as Christ had done for them.
If we value wisdom, spiritual maturity, and growth, this is something we'll aspire to make a dominant characteristic of our lives as well. As the Holy Spirit empowers us to love, let's love deeply and generously.
II. Live quietly and mind your own business
“and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, ”
I find Paul's additional instruction in this passage rather interesting. He's basically telling the church to keep their nose where it belonged. I suspect there was something specific taking place in the church that may have prompted him to mention this. In fact, this is something we all struggle to do.
A couple years after I first became a pastor, several other ministry leaders started to invite me to join them for lunch. Being a new pastor in my early twenties, I was thrilled to take them up on their invitation. Quite regularly we would gather to eat at different restaurants in the area. I loved it. It was a nice reprieve that I truly looked forward to, but unfortunately, that started to change. Eventually those lunches turned into gossip sessions, and I remember feeling embarrassed at the thought of people at nearby tables overhearing what was being said. In time, I stopped attending because my conscience was troubled by it.
I can't help but wonder if some of the believers in Thessalonica were getting caught up in that same kind of web. The devil loves to damage the genuine fellowship believers try to have with each other, and take advantage of the ways in which believers choose to live in close proximity. As they held all things in common, and shared many aspects of life with each other, they also got to know each other really well. At times, when you're living that way, it can be very easy to slip into sharing news that really shouldn't be shared. It can be particularly easy to justify that under the guise of concern or prayer. In fact, I think that's how some of the gossip got started among the church leaders I used to meet with.
But Paul challenged believers to live quietly and mind their own affairs. They didn't need to continually stick their nose in the business of others, particularly if they were doing that with unhealthy and unwise motives. We would be wise to aspire to follow this counsel as well.
III. Work with your hands and be dependent on no one
“and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.”
The way the Lord has created us fascinates me. It's clear that we have been designed to be people who remain healthier mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually if we stay active. Certainly there are times for rest as well, but in many ways, the Lord teaches us not to be slothful or lazy people.
"The desire of the sluggard kills him, for his hands refuse to labor." (Proverbs 21:25)
"Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need." (Ephesians 4:28)
Paul was someone who worked with his hands. Even when he was ministering among the people of Thessalonica, he made and sold tents so as not to be a burden to them. There were other churches who financially supported Paul's ministry, but much of what he did was also funded through his diligent and entrepreneurial efforts.
You would think that would be an example the people of Thessalonica would have remembered, but when you look at his comments in this letter, as well as what he shares with them in his second letter, it appears that some of these believers had become slothful. Some had given up on working, and the more that became apparent to Paul, the more it troubled him.
Why did they do that? Why were some of these people trying to live off the charity of wealthier Christians who were, at least temporarily, willing to financially support them? It appears that some of this activity may have sprung from their perspective toward Christ's return. Because they knew He could return at any time, they reasoned that there wasn't much point in working. What was the point of building, saving, and investing if Jesus might return in a day or two?
I believe Jesus could come back at any time, and I also agree with a statement I heard some years ago. I'm not sure who to attribute this quote to, but someone once said, "Live as if Jesus might return today, but work as if He isn't coming back for another 100 years." There may be better ways that statement could be phrased, but I think there's value in that concept.
We're all dependent on the Lord to sustain us. Jesus is presently sustaining our lives and the entire universe by His powerful word. But He hasn't called us to develop a culture of unhealthy dependence within the church. Excessive dependence isn't healthy, and we don't have to look far to see examples of that. There are people who work harder at finding ways to take advantage of every charity or social safety net than they ever worked at a job. And what's the result? The result is broken families, moral depravity, idleness, crime, and a mindset that thinks its entitled to the fruit of someone else's labor.
In his letters to the Thessalonians, Paul was trying to nip that problem in the bud. If we aspire to get our lives together, this is counsel we should value as well. We can glorify Jesus in any task we do, and in nearly any form of employment. Work with your hands. Work hard, and don't develop an entitled mindset or an unhealthy form of dependence.
IV. Earn the respect of those who don't share your faith
“so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.”
One of the most well-known Christians of the past century was Billy Graham. Not everyone agreed with the message he preached, but most people, including many world leaders, seemed to respect him.
When Graham was a young man, he organized a revival event in Los Angeles. William Randolph Hurst was a media mogul at the time, and for reasons no one knows, he sent a two word note to the journalists who worked for him. In their coverage of the event, Hurst told them to "Puff Graham." This was his way of instructing them to give the crusade good coverage. They followed orders, and helped launch Billy Graham's ministry to a place of national and international prominence.
Graham enjoyed a long, scandal-free ministry. The respect he earned from those outside the church allowed him to preach in many unexpected places, in front of many people who eventually came to faith in Christ.
That was the kind of testimony among unbelievers Paul wanted the Thessalonians to have, but if they drifted toward gossip and laziness, they would have done a disservice to the gospel of Christ.
What kind of testimony do we have? Would someone who doesn't share our faith dare to say, "Those people really have their lives together?" As men and women who trust Jesus and are empowered by the Holy Spirit, let’s aspire to give this world the best glimpse of Christ we can. Let's make sure they see Christ in our love, lifestyle, and the labor of our hands.
© John Stange, 2020
