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 4v11
There are many time when I prefer the English of the 17th century for its clarity and preciseness. There are also times when I prefer 20th century English for the same reason. This is one of the latter.
God is so good to not just give us a heavy theological treatise, though theology and doctrine are vital. He also graces us with sound, every day, and practical instruction. The teaching in today’s passage is just that. Aspire for the quiet life, mind you own business, and do your own work.
These are pretty simple commands. I wonder how many fight, squabbles, divisions, and church splits would be avoided if we simply followed them? It all hinges around these simple little words – mind your own business.
We are told in other places never to tolerate sin. That we have to deal with. When a brother or sister in Christ sins the loving thing is to point out their sin and lovingly correct them.
That’s not what we are talking about here. We are talking about just going about our daily lives. I have never seen the word ‘nosey parker’ in a list of attributes of the flesh, but we all know it is a part of us. We simply have to know what is going on and then impart our supposed wisdom and logic to sort it out. We need to learn to keep our noses on our own faces.
I know that I can get all bent out of shape by worrying more about what someone else is doing and how they are doing it. I can fine myself saying things like, ‘that’s not fair!’ and having a regular hissy fit because I am so focused on the affairs of others.
Live a quiet life.
Mind your own business.
Do your own work.
How simple it would be if we could apply those three little lessons.
1 comment:
In his book The Divine Conspiracy, Dallas Willard commented on the early part of Matthew 7 and spoke to this point. He said that the discussion about taking the sliver and plank out of each other's eyes basically involves sticking your nose it where it neither belongs nor is wanted.
He tied the statement 'cast not your pearls before swine' into the same context. It made for an interesting twist on that verse. He said that pigs can't eat pearls, so we shouldn't be surprised that they get angry.
I recently read that and thought it tied into your passage well.
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