Head: Know God's Word | Heart: Love God | Hands: Follow God's Way
Read 1 Thessalonians 4
HEAD
Paul continues his letter to the church in Thessalonica with encouragement to live a life consistent with the Gospel, pleasing to God. In verses 11 and 12, he tells the church to lead a quiet life and work with their hands. Christians in Thessalonica were not respected by non-believers. In fact, they were being persecuted pretty heavily. Paul is encouraging the church to win the respect of the non-believers by working really hard at their jobs and serving others. If they are farmers, be the best farmers in the area. If they are carpenters, build the strongest buildings in the town. Whatever their job, Paul says to do it with integrity and to serve others. He also says to mind your own business and take care of your own affairs. This reminds me of the saying, “Stay in your lane”. In our culture, it means not worrying about what someone else is supposed to be doing, but rather taking care of your own responsibilities. For Christians, it also means to do what God has called you to do, not what He’s called someone else to do. Paul says that when we work hard and focus on what God has called us to do, we will win the respect of others and won’t be dependent on anyone.
HEART
In our social media-driven culture, it is challenging to live a quiet life and “stay in our own lane”. Information is poured on us all day long about what other people are doing, how we’re supposed to be living, and how we’re supposed to look. The desire to look good to others has been around for a long time, but we now have constant opportunities to compare ourselves with others because social media is such a huge part of our culture. This is not how God says to live. He says in 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 to “make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your hands”. This challenges me to stop comparing my life to other people. It reminds me to be confident in who God says I am and what He has called me to do. To run my race, not someone else’s race.
HANDS
So how’s it going? Are you leading a quiet life, running your race, and working hard? Maybe you’ve gotten caught up in comparing your life to other people. Here’s a chance to acknowledge it and trust that God has a good plan specifically for you. Maybe you’ve slacked off in your job or at school, not realizing that God expects you to do it to the best of your ability every day. Maybe you’re not doing anything to serve other people. Find a way to serve this week.
Social media can be a good tool for making connections and encouraging others, but it can also be a source of distraction. If you have social media, I challenge you to ask yourself why you use it. Ask God to reveal to you how you’re using it and if that needs to change.
Prayer: Father, thank You for Paul’s letter. Thank You that the words You gave him all those years ago still apply to my life today. Thank You for giving me purpose. Help me to trust You more and do what You say. Help me to understand what it means for me to live a quiet life, mind my own business, and work with my hands. Help me to serve other people. I love You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.