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.