Work with Your Own Hands

First Thessalonians 4:11c-12 says, "and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing." The NASB says, "so that you will behave properly toward outsiders and not be in any need." It seems that at least some of the Thessalonian believers refused to work and as a result were becoming a burden on the church. This attitude came from perhaps two different sources and needed to be corrected.

The Greeks believed it was below the dignity of free men to do manual labor. Any work done with the hands was degrading to them. That is why they made their slaves do all of it. However, most of the Christians in the early church came from the working classes. That is why the church dignified manual labor as an honorable endeavor. Yet it seems that many of the working class and slaves who had become Christians had taken the attitude that, since they had become free in Christ, they were no longer subject to their masters and quit their jobs. Therefore, Paul commanded them "to work with your own hands" (v. 11c).

Another reason many refused to work was their belief that Christ would return very soon. Instead of supporting themselves through honest labor, some of the Thessalonians were depending on the church to support them for a time while they "waited" for the Lord's return. And so Paul again exhorted them "to work with your own hands" (v. 11c). He even warned them in Second Thessalonians 3:10, "If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat." This does not negate the love of the brethren. Certainly when a brother is in need and we have the means to help, we must. However, no one is to refuse to work and by choice become a burden to the church. Hold a job, use your hands, work for your living. Then, when a need still arises, the church is there to meet the need. That is how it is to work, says Paul.

Note the purpose of these exhortations: "that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing" (1 Thess. 4:12). First of all, it is evangelistic. You are to excel more and more in your love for one another; you are to lead a quiet life; you are to mind your own business; and you are to work with your own hands, so that you may "walk properly toward outsiders" (v. 12a). For Paul, the key to evangelism is the integrity we manifest to a sinful, confused world. When we display good attitudes and habits at work, and live in a loving and tranquil manner that respects the privacy of others and does not intrude or gossip, our life becomes a powerful testimony to people outside of the church, to unbelievers. Such a life makes the gospel credible.

Not only that, but when you live your life in this manner, you may be certain that you will "lack nothing" (v. 12b). As the NASB puts it, when your behavior is proper you will "not be in any need." God will provide for your needs, first through your own labor, then, when there is a need beyond your ability, through your loving brothers in Christ. But God will take care of you.

How about you? If Christ should come next Sunday, what will He find you doing? How about tomorrow, or Friday, or Saturday? You must live your life every day as Paul has directed, until Jesus comes. Amen.

Mind Your Own Business

First Thessalonians 4:11b tells us simply "to mind your own business." The admonition to mind your own business was a common one in secular Greek writings, but in the New Testament this is its only occurrence. Paul may be addressing a particular group within the church or he may be speaking to everyone in general. His message is clear: concentrate on your own lives, take care of your own jobs, and do not meddle in the affairs of others.

Paul later wrote the Thessalonians again about this concern: "For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies. Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread" (2 Thess. 3:11-12). Those who do not mind their own business are "busybodies" (v. 11b). "Busybodies" (v. 11b) means to take more pains than enough about a thing, to waste one's labor, to be meddling with, or bustling about, other people's matters. They were constantly running around meddling in everyone's problems, often at the neglect of their own.

Paul's counsel? Don't do it. Don't meddle in other people's business. If they ask you for help or advice, fine. If not, stay out! Meddling in other people's business is unwise, undisciplined behavior that only causes rifts among believers. Such meddling must be left behind. Instead, Paul tells us to work diligently and faithfully at our own jobs, to stay out of other people's business and attend instead to our own affairs, and lead a quiet, tranquil life that serves fellow believers and, at the same time, glorifies the Lord before unbelievers.

When you love one another and excel in loving each other more each day, when you truly seek to lead a quiet life in Christ, the end result will be a life in which you mind your own business. To do otherwise would lead to anything but a quiet life. Follow Christ in showing your love to one another. Amen.

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.

The Sign of the Times

As I look around me I see a time of great distress in this nation. It raises the question of what is happening? When will Jesus return? In Matthew 24:3 the disciples asked that very question: "Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, 'Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?'"

Note how Jesus replied in verses 4-8: "Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows." An apt description of today's world is it not? But note that Jesus said, "the end is not yet" (v. 6b).

Jesus continued: "Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name's sake. And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come" (vs. 9-14).

"Then the end will come" (v. 14b). Pay attention to what is happening around you. The coronavirus pandemic, the violence in the streets, the mob violence in our major cities and their assault on our nation. All these things make our upcoming election extremely critical. It is a fight for the soul of this nation. As I have often said, we are just one election away from the loss of our freedoms and the complete dismantling of the greatest nation on earth.

If the extreme left socialists win this election and gain control, look out and look up! Why? Because this nation will undergo a fundamental change. Nothing will be the same. And the first assault will likely be directed at the church. How do I know this? Because they have already taken aim, demanding that the church stop singing! The left is already trying to control the church and shut it down. If they can do that, they will have overcome a major obstacle. Chaos and anarchy will flood the streets. "Lawlessness will abound" (v. 12a).

When you see these things happening, look up and know that God is near! Amen.

Jesus Rose from the Dead to Give Us Life

Isaiah 53:10 says, "Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in His hand." Though He was down, He was not defeated. His ministry did not end with His death. Death gave way to victory. He rose from the dead and is seated at the right hand of the Father where He intercedes for us with the Father.

Even in death He was victorious. He defeated death to give us new life. "For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, He cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over Him" (Rom. 6:9, NIV). The Suffering Servant was the Lamb of God. He took away our sin and to "see His seed" and to "prolong His days," He rose up from the grave.

"He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, for He shall bear their iniquities" (Isaiah 53:11). He is coming again! Verses 10-11 say so. "He shall see His seed" (v. 10) literally means to "gaze at," emphasizing being present with them. "He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied" (v. 11a) is the idea of being filled, content, even "enriched" in our presence.

The Servant bore sin to justify the many (v. 11b). He brought salvation and He will take us unto Himself when He returns. "Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great, and He shall divide the spoil with the strong" (v. 12a). This refers to victory, dividing the spoil, and ruling. He will return to rule the nations. We will join Him in victory and rule with Him.

"Because He poured out His soul unto death, and He was numbered with the transgressors, and He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors" (v. 12b). Jesus came with a purpose—to die for our sin. Crucified with criminals (Luke 22:37), He "was numbered with the transgressors." But He fulfilled His purpose. He bore our sin. He provided for our forgiveness. He gave us new life.

Now He is making "intercession for the transgressors" (v. 12b). He is praying for the very people who had transgressed against God—that is you and me! "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do" (Luke 23:34). What began on the cross, continues in heaven. Jesus is praying for you right now.

Take a good look. Jesus died for you and He is praying for you. By faith, receive Him and follow Him. Amen.

Jesus Suffered for Our Sin

Isaiah 53:4-6 says, "Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all." Over and over again you see it in the New Testament—the doctrine of the atonement.

These verses clearly describe the atonement as substitutionary. They zero in especially on the suffering of Christ. Both on the way to the cross and at the cross, Christ was smitten, causing great suffering. The story as it unfolds in the gospels concerning the substitutionary death of Christ on the cross is one of the most intense passages in the Bible. Christ was our substitute in that He received the judgment for our sin that we deserved to receive.

Note how this unfolds here in these verses: "He has borne our griefs" (v. 4a); He "carried our sorrows" (v. 4b); He was "stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted" (v. 4c); "He was wounded for our transgressions" (v. 5a); "He was bruised for our iniquities" (v. 5b); He was chastised "for our peace" (v. 5c); "by His stripes" our healing was made possible (v. 5d); "the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all" (v. 6c).

"Like sheep" who wander away from the fold, we have all "gone astray" (v. 6a) and we have all "turned… to his own way" (v. 6b). Still, Jesus suffered greatly out of a pure love for you. He paid the price for you that you deserved to pay. And He did it so you could live in fellowship with the Father.

"He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He opened not His mouth" (v. 7). He suffered and died without protest. That is pure love.

"He was taken from prison and from judgment, and who will declare His generation? For He was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgressions of My people He was stricken" (v. 8). He took your sin upon Himself willingly. "He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him" (2 Cor. 5:21). "Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us" (Gal. 3:13). "Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous" (1 Peter 3:18, NIV).

"And they made His grave with the wicked—but with the rich at His death, because He had done no violence, nor was any deceit in His mouth" (Isaiah 53:9). Literally fulfilled! Jesus died with the wicked, crucified between two criminals (Luke 23:32), and He was buried in a rich man's tomb (Matt. 27:57-60). Yet the truth is, it was all for you. Jesus died for you—for your salvation. Trust Him by faith. Amen.