August 23: 1 Thessalonians 4:9-12
Main Focus: Ordinary Life with Gospel Awareness
1 Thessalonians 4:1-12 is about living a life pleasing to the Lord. Paul calls on the Thessalonians to please God by living in holiness and love. Here in verse 9-12 Paul urges the Thessalonians to continue showing brotherly love and to be financially self-supporting. Some in the church had abandoned gainful employment and were living off the charity of wealthier Christians. Paul reminds followers of Jesus that they have been taught by God to love one another.
Jeremiah 31:33–34 says “For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.” Jeremiah prophesied that God would write his law on the hearts of his people and directly teach them as part of the new covenant. Christians already know this reality (see 1 John 2:27): by love they fulfill the law.
Romans 13:8–10 says “Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.”
Jesus says in John 13:34–35 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” Jesus gave the world the authority to judge our Christianity by the love we have for one another. Regarding this verse Francis Schaeffer wrote, “Upon His authority He gives the world the right to judge whether you and I are born-again Christians on the basis of our observable love toward all Christians. That’s pretty frightening.” This is a high calling, but it will be to the world’s good and our joy to pursue it in Christian community.
In light of this truth Paul says to calls believers to live quietly and peaceably with others (see 2 Thessalonians 3:11-12), instead of meddling in others’ affairs to work with your hands. Paul calls on Thessalonian believers to earn their own living rather than to depend on wealthier Christians and to walk properly before outsiders.
Discussion questions
– Paul notes that the Thessalonians are already loving one another, but urges them to do so “more and more.” Where do you see room for your group or our church to grow deeper in practical love?
– How does knowing you are “taught by God” to love change the way you deal with difficult people in the church? Your group?
– Paul tells believers to make it their ambition to lead a quiet life and work with their hands. Why is “leading a quiet life” described as an ambition rather than just happening naturally?
– Verse 11 says to “mind your own affairs or business.” Why do you think busybody behavior or meddling so easily creeps into Christian communities, especially when people are stressed or anxious about the future?
– What does it look like for you this week to “walk honestly toward outsiders” through the ordinary tasks on your calendar?
– What is one practical step you can take to bring more love, peace, diligence, or love into your workplace or home?
– Take time to pray for one another in light of this passage.