Living a quiet life
Make it your goal to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands, just as we instructed you before. Then people who are not believers will respect the way you live, and you will not need to depend on others. 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 NLT
Christians are not only expected to love one another but they are also to live lives that will provide a testimony of their walk with the Lord. Paul said from the text, “Make it your goal to live a quiet life.” The goal is to live a life of stability and tranquility. Life should be characterized by having an inner peace that will not be easily rattled by trials and difficulties. When Christians are experiencing severe difficulties in life caused by persecution because of their faith, the tendency is to insist on the return of Christ. They are vocally announcing that Christ’s return is sooner than people are expecting for such pronouncement can provide the needed relief and rest from the difficulties of life. Paul’s admonition is not to be restless but instead to wait with calmness and expectation for that great day. Once we get too preoccupied with interpreting prophecies related to Christ’s return, we might miss the opportunity of sharing the gospel to those who have the possibility of coming to know Christ as Lord and Savior. We are called upon to live a quiet life that includes pointing people to the saving knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Once we become so preoccupied with the details of Christ’s return, we will start to neglect the work God has called us to do. This could also lead to idleness once we become easy prey to Satan and we start to lose sight of God’s priority over our lives. The best way to prepare for Christ’s return is to be busy with the Lord’s work and to be faithful looking for opportunities to minister to others in God’s name. In this way, “people who are not believers will respect the way you live.” When we deviate from God’s purpose for our lives and we get distracted neglecting what He called us to do, we can harm our testimony. We should be in the Father’s business. The Lord Jesus Christ provided us an example when He told His disciples “Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?” When we live our lives seeking to be harmonious with others and not meddle in the affairs of others, such life can provide an inspiration for others that will lead them to be drawn to our Savior.
Blessings,
