Lead a Quiet Life

After encouraging us to love one another more, doing all we can for one another, Paul goes on to admonish us to lead a quiet life. He continues in First Thessalonians 4:11a, "that you also aspire to lead a quiet life," or "to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life" (NASB).

There is certainly a great urgency in the fact that Jesus will return soon—an urgency that often translates into the desire to proclaim the gospel while there is still time. A problem arises, however, when that desire turns into a noisy, frantic hounding of neighbors and friends and everyone else you might run into on the street. Sharing the gospel is one thing. Hounding people constantly and obnoxiously is quite another. That seems to be what was happening in Thessalonica. Believers who were quitting their jobs to "wait" for the Lord's immediate return were also busy harassing unbelievers to the point of being obnoxious.

Instead, Paul tells them that they must not only excel more in their love for one another, but they must "aspire to" (v. 11a), or "make it your ambition to lead a quiet life" (NASB) as well. Two verbs are used here in contradictory fashion: First, "aspire" (v. 11a), or "make it your ambition" (NASB), means to be zealous and strive eagerly, even to consider it an honor. Second, "lead a quiet life" (v. 11a) means to be silent, not speaking out inappropriately, remaining at rest and tranquil. In other words, in light of the second coming of Christ, we are encouraged to lead peaceful lives, free of conflict and hostility toward others. Such a quiet life, in itself, is a witness to the transforming power of the gospel.

Paul's goal here is the same as when he told Timothy and the church at Ephesus to pray for those in authority over them—"that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence" (1 Tim. 2:2). Do not harass and intimidate the unbelievers around you hoping that by your many words they might come to the Savior. A contentious life given to strife discredits the gospel you preach. Rather, having shared the gospel with them, let them also see the truth of the gospel through the changed life you live. Through that quiet, tranquil life of godliness and dignity they will see the truth and know that the words you share will lead them to peace with God as well.

Note how Paul adds the purpose of these commands in First Thessalonians 4:12: "that you may walk properly toward those who are outside" (that is, toward unbelievers). Live for Christ for the sake of your unbelieving friends, that they might come to Christ as a result of your life. Amen.

Love One Another More

In First Thessalonians 4:9-10 Paul wrote to encourage us as to how we should live our lives in the light of the coming of Christ. Paul said, "But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; and indeed you do so toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, that you increase more and more" (vs. 9-10).

It seems that in the early years of the young churches Paul had started there was a widespread belief that Jesus would return very soon, certainly within their lifetime, a belief we continue to hold today. As a result there began to grow a belief that His coming would be so soon that they need not do anything but wait for His return. Apparently, many of them quit their jobs in order to "wait" for the expected event. Others were busy stirring up excitement with the latest "signs" of His coming. Still others simply began to meddle in other believers' business and became obnoxious. We see the same reactions today.

Paul's exhortation to love in these verses is set in contrast with the admonition he gave them concerning immorality and lust in verses 3-8. The phrase "but concerning" (v. 9a), or “now as to” (NASB), introduces a change in subject from a discussion about lust and sexual sin to a consideration of "brotherly love" (v. 9a), or  "the love of the brethren" (NASB). They must not only abstain from illicit forms of affection but they must exchange all of that for the kind of brotherly love that is characterized by only the purest motives and conduct. There was no better way to express the change regeneration had made in the Thessalonians. There is no better way for us to express this same change in our lives, because, like the Thessalonians, we too are "taught by God to love one another" (v. 9b).

"Brotherly love" (v. 9a), or "love of the brethren" (NASB), translates the Greek word philadelphia, which originally referred to affection for blood relatives. But in the New Testament, the Greek word philadelphia is always used to refer to Christian affection. True biblical love is always seen in acts of sacrificial service that benefits others.

The fact that this was taught to them by God is significant. No one else taught them to love one another, not even Paul. God Himself taught them this. The phrase "you yourselves" (v. 9b) indicates that, apart from Paul or any other teacher, all believers are taught by God to love one another (literally, "God taught," a phrase used only here in the New Testament).

Christians love each other naturally. If you know God, you will love each other because God is love. Romans 5:5 says, "The love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us." First John 3:14 adds, "We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death." Again, in First John 2:9-10 John adds, "He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now. He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him." And in First John 3:16-17 we read, "By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?"

Get the picture? Believers do things for one another out of a pure love of God—love that naturally comes from within where the Holy Spirit resides. True believers meet each others' needs and give sacrificially for the benefit of their brothers in Christ.

This is agape Love—the purest form of love as only Christians can express because it is the very love of God flowing through us. This love the Thessalonians already showed for one another, as we are told in verse 10a: "and indeed you do so toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia." However, no one is ever perfect in their love for one another. There is always room to grow. Just as Paul wanted to see them strengthen their faith (1 Thess. 3:10), he also wanted them to strengthen their love for one another. That is why he urges them to "increase more and more" (v. 10b), or to "excel still more" (NASB).

In a similar manner, Peter wrote, "Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart" (1 Peter 1:22). Here, "love one another fervently" literally means "stretch out to the limits of love for one another." Knowing that Christ is returning soon, Paul, like Peter, urged these believers to stretch themselves to the limit in their love for each other. Leave nothing undone. Do all you can for one another—to the limit! Amen.