by John Kyle
Sometimes Scripture encourages us to shout from the mountaintops. Sometimes it encourages us to be quiet and diligent. This post is about the latter.
The people of Thessalonica were on fire for the Gospel. They loved well and followed the teachings of the Apostles. They were eager to hear more. And, they waited with excitement for Jesus to return.
In their excitement for his return, they got a little carried away. Some of them stopped working altogether. They became dependent upon others to eat and live. In addressing their error, the Apostle Paul gives very helpful insight about our own modern attitudes about work and ambassadorship.
But we urge you brothers to do this more and more, 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. -- I Thessalonians 4:11-12
Be Quiet of Heart
Before addressing their lack of work, Paul starts by addressing their heart posture. “Aspire to live quietly.” The text can actually be read with somewhat stronger language: "Become students of the quiet life." In other words, Paul is encouraging us to study it, master it, and embrace it to the glory of God.
To many, the quiet life sounds boring, risk-less, adventure-less. Does this verse mean that we should never go to parties or enjoy a boisterous football game? Of course not. Paul is not making quietness a law. He is establishing a fruit-bearing principle of life – to focus on the work at hand. He is calling us to a calm and quiet temperament, to be peaceable.
[We should be] calm and quiet in our minds, in patience to possess our own souls, and to be quiet toward others; or of a meek and mild, and gentle and peaceable disposition, not given to strife, contention, or division. Satan is very busy to disquiet us; and we have that in our hearts that dispossesses us to be disquiet; therefore let us study to be quiet. – Matthew Henry
Mind Your Own Business
Sometimes we are enamored with the chatter of the day. Who is dating whom? He said, she said. Did you hear about…?
The Bible is not a fan of gossip or idle talk. And yet, we find ourselves engaged in it a lot, don’t we? Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook – otherwise powerful tools for human communication – can often be used for gossip and rumor. We need to keep a check on the ways these tools distract us from the quiet life and give rise to jealousy, strife, and disquiet in our minds.
Paul’s antidote to gossip and idle talk is right there in his letter to the Thessalonians: Get to work! And these words are not just for the Thessalonians. They are for us and endorsed elsewhere in Scripture. The Proverbs, for example, provide many words of wisdom about the benefits of diligence, hard work, and perseverance.
The Call to Serve
Paul closes this section with a reminder of what we are here to do and why we work. Some of the Thessalonians stopped working so they could wait for Jesus to return. In becoming idle, they started meddling. This is not what Jesus wants from us. He wants us to work for the good of the city and to provide for our families, our neighbors, and ourselves. He wants us to serve by working.
Our labors are not to store up treasures on earth or to make a name for ourselves. Instead, the King calls us to be his ambassadors that work toward the flourishing and welfare of the city, and for the common good.
God is a worker. He creates and sustains. He heals and redeems. And we honor him when we join him in the work to be done. We are called to work toward the good design he has for the world. He is present with us as we work, which makes our work eternally significant. So, let’s wait for Jesus with joyful anticipation, recognizing that work is an integral part of God’s design for waiting.
Note to College Students
If you are about to graduate from college and are considering how to follow these words and to serve God and others through your work, please consider joining one of the 30 fellows programs in our network. Like the 280 current fellows and the 2,400 fellows alumni, I think you will be blessed by it.
Join a Fellows Program
We are accepting fellows applications for all of the programs in the TFI network. If you are a college senior, recent graduate, or knows someone that is, please take a look at the TFI Common Application. You can apply to three programs at once with no application fee.
Being a fellow is an amazing way to launch your career after college! As a fellow you will have a paid job in your field of interest. You will take graduate courses in bible, theology, leadership, and cultural engagement. You will have many opportunities to use your gifts serving in the church and city. You will have a personal mentor.
The winter application deadline, January 15th, is just around the corner. Many programs fill up quickly so we encourage you to apply soon! Click here to apply today!
Not sure which program to join? You can learn more about the 30 fellows programs in our network by clicking here.
Join TFI as a Financial Partner!
TFI is working with churches across the country to inspire and equip emerging leaders for the church, workplace and society. We are 30 programs strong with 280 fellows each year and 2,400 alumni!
If you have been blessed by a fellows program or simply want to see this Kingdom ministry expand, please consider making a recurring donation or a one-time gift to TFI.
CLICK HERE to donate online. To give by check, please mail it to:
The Fellows Initiative
20130 Lakeview Center Plaza, Suite 400
Ashburn, Virginia 20147
Thank you! TFI is a donor supported 501c3 nonprofit.
Comments