1 Thessalonians 4:11
"...and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you.." (ESV)
This verse in Paul's letter to the Thessalonians has so much to say about how we believers are expected to live. These instructions aren't for the purpose of spiritual growth, in the same manner other letters were, the purpose of this was to give instruction regarding our contribution in our community. Be that church, our neighbourhood, family, school or work.
Aspire to Live Quietly...
Or as some translations put it, make it your goal, study to be quiet, make it your ambition.
We are instructed to strive to live a quiet life. This doesn't mean we go around acting as if we're a monk who's taken a vow of silence or being passive or indifferent towards the things happening around us.
It means we don't just speak haphazardly, or live a life filled with constant drama. it means we are at rest in our lives and not in conflict or hostile towards others. Our lives shouldn't be chaotic.
Proverbs 29:11 says,
A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds back (ESV)
There is a time and a place for everything. There are times when we should speak up, fight our corner, correct. But there are also times when we should remain quiet, keep the peace, observe, or let an issue go.
A quiet life is something we are to aspire to, something we should be passionate about, a goal we are working towards.
Usually, when we think about goals, we think more towards our education, career, even owning a home or being rich. however, this first part of verse 11, tells us that a peaceful life is what we should be striving for.
Better a handful of quietness, than two full hands of toil and striving after the wind.
Ecclesiastes 4:6 (ESV)
The Greek translation for this term means to rest and cease from labour. It also refers to leading a quiet life and illustrates those who aren't running here and there, but are instead at home, minding their own business. It also means, to say nothing, to hold ones peace.
The ability to live a quiet life stems from humility. A humble person doesn't seek attention for themselves, all they do seeks to bring attention to Christ.
This humility then leads contentment. When you're content, the desire to want and do more is quenched. This doesn't mean you accept your lot in life, we should always make attempts to better ourselves when the opportunity arises. What it means is, we don't see having more as being the answer to our problems, it's not the be all and end all. We appreciate what we have because we have the things that we truly need.
But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world.
1 Timothy 6:6-7 (ESV)
Trying to gain more and more only serves to bring greater stress into our lives. The more we have, the harder we have to work to maintain it and the less likely we are to be at peace.
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