We are in a series in which we are looking at how we have been called to more. In 1 Thessalonians 4:1 that these Christians in Thessalonica know how to walk and are living in a way that is pleasing to the Lord. But Paul instructs them to excel even more in being pleasing to the Lord. We do not want to become spiritually stagnant. We do not want to spiritually drift away or lose the zeal and love for the Lord that we had at the beginning. So Paul writes to encourage excelling even more in a passionate pursuit of the Lord. In our last lesson we saw Paul’s concern that we would excel more and more in holiness (cf. 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8). As we come to 1 Thessalonians 4:9-12 we are going to read another area in our lives where we can excel even more.
Praising Their Love (1 Thessalonians 4:9-10)
Please listen to how Paul begins this section. “Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you…” Imagine the apostle Paul writing this letter to this church and telling them that when it comes to loving each other, there is no need for me or anyone else to write about that to you. When it comes to loving each other, what more can I say? Look at verse 9. You have been taught by God to love each other and that is what you are doing. Not only are they loving each other, but they are loving all the family of Christ in the whole province of Macedonia. It would be like Paul telling us that you are not only loving the brethren in your own congregation but your love is spreading to all the brethren in south Florida.
I think this is important to observe right here. We can become very focused on only our congregation and only concerned about the family of Christ that is here. We are right to recognize that we are not denominational. Our church is not directly connected nor does it have fellowship with other churches. But this does not mean that we do not have love and show that love to the family of Christ in other areas. Just because we belong to this spiritual family does not mean that we do not care or do not want to help or do not want to love the Christians who are north, south, and west of us. Paul praises these Christians for not only loving each other in Thessalonica, but also loving the brethren in the province in which they live. As we know, love is more than a feeling. It is not that these Christians merely had good feelings for the other Christians in Macedonia. They clearly were showing their love toward them. So Paul tells these Christians that it is evident in how they live that they have been taught by God when it comes to loving each other.
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. (John 13:34-35 ESV)
They were doing what Jesus said. They were known by their love. But look at what Paul says at the end of verse 10. “But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more.” Even though there is no need to write to you and give any condemnation when it comes to brotherly love, do not let up. Do not grow lax. Excel even more. The command to love even more controls everything that we do. You may remember that when Jesus was asked about the greatest command, he responded to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind, and to love your neighbor as yourself (cf. Matthew 22:34-40). We need to love each other more and more. So what else could Paul possibly instruct? Look at 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12.
Three Ways To Excel Even More In Love (1 Thessalonians 4:11)
Even though they are loving each other and the brethren in the province, there are three areas where they can excel still more. First, Paul teaches them to aim to live a quiet life (1 Thessalonians 4:11). We are called to live peaceably with all (cf. Romans 12:18). We do not create unnecessary conflict or have disruptive behavior. We do not quarrel or cause strife. We are not contentious. We are not the troublemaker in the church or in our neighborhoods where we live. We are not seeking to have arguments or conflicts. Humility does not draw attention to one’s self. We do not glory in ourselves or what people paying attention to our spiritual gifts or our earthly talents. We seek to live quietly and peaceably in this world. The apostle Paul even taught to pray for this to be possible.
First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior… (1 Timothy 2:1-3 ESV)
Pray, intercede, and give thanks for all who in positions of leadership so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives, godly and dignified in every way. Excelling even more in love means that we are not unruly. We are not called to be disruptors of society. In fact, it was in the city of Thessalonica when Paul’s companions were charged by the jealous Jews of turning the world upside down (cf. Acts 17:5-7). But how were they turning the world upside down? When we read the scriptures carefully we see that all they were doing was teaching the scriptures in the synagogues that it was necessary for Christ to suffer and rise from the dead (cf. Acts 17:2-3). The reason we seek to live quiet and peaceful lives is so that we can have the opportunity to teach Christ Jesus to everyone. We do not distract from the gospel in the way we speak and live.
Second, mind your own business (1 Thessalonians 4:11). The idiom in our English is the same as it is in the Greek. Now it is not in a mean or nasty way. But it does mean what it sounds like. We are not meddling in the business of others. We are not nosey. We do not pry. We do not gossip. We are not digging for information. Paul gave this instruction again to these Christians in the second letter to them.
For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living. (2 Thessalonians 3:11-12 ESV)
Paul warns them to not be idle and to not be busybodies. Take care of your own life and stop interfering in the lives of others. Let me give a warning where this becomes dangerous for Christians. Sometimes we will say that we want particular details so that we can pray for them. Do I need to know all the troubles, sorrows, or suffering that you are going through for me to pray for you? No, I do not. If you want to share with me your trouble or pain so that I can encourage you or help you, then that is wonderful. But it is not my job to try to get every detail of your life problem. I just need to know that I need to pray for you. It is important that we care for each other and we can ask how those things are going with each other. But do not be a busybody. Do not insert yourself into the affairs of others. Here is the rule I go by: if you want to tell me, then you will tell me. I do not need to press you. We show love for each other and excel even more in doing so by minding our own business.
Finally, work with your hands (1 Thessalonians 4:11). We need to keep ourselves occupied with our own work. We need to keep ourselves busy by providing for ourselves. Paul also makes this point in the second letter he wrote to these Christians.
For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you. It was not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves an example to imitate. For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. (2 Thessalonians 3:7-10 ESV)
Friends, we need to hear these words. We do not support people who are idle. Paul says that he had every right as an apostle to not do secular work while he was with them. But listen carefully to what he said he did as an example to imitate. They were not idle. That means they were not sitting around doing nothing. They did not take anyone’s food. That means that they did not take anything for free. They did not receive money or food. Instead, they worked day and night so that they would not be a burden to any of them. Please listen to the strong instruction Paul gives: if you will not work, then you are not to eat. You are supposed to provide for yourself. You are supposed to work with your own hands. You do not eat at the hands of others’ labors.
When we read the book of Acts, we see Christians helping other Christians because of an emergency. We see them helping each other because of an unforeseeable event. We see a famine where Christians literally had no food and Christians in other areas helped. We have practiced these things when it came to Christians in need in Zimbabwe or when hurricanes have hit Christians and they suffered loss. But this does not mean that Christians are a month after month, long term financial support plan. God instructs us to work and to not be idle. We are instructed that we will not eat if we do not work. The church is not authorized to financially support those who are idle. Further, Christians should not support those who are idle. And please note that Paul is not merely talking about those in the world. He is talking about people who are in their own congregation who are being idle and not working with their hands.
Paul established a very important example to these Christians. He did not eat anyone’s bread without paying for it. Let me clarify how I see this turning into sin. Christians are to love each other and to be generous toward each other. But these truths do not mean that I have the right to ask you to give me money. Further, I do not have the right to question your faithfulness by twisting your arms to support me month after month. We have no right to demand that someone else take care of us just because they are Christians. Excelling even more in love means that I going to work with my own hands.
Two Goals (1 Thessalonians 4:12)
Why are these things so important? Why does Paul tell us to strive to live quietly, mind our own business, and work with our hands? Why do we excel even more by doing these things? You will notice in verse 12 that Paul gives two reasons or two goals. First, we want to walk properly before outsiders. We discredit the name of Christ to the world when we are not striving to live quiet lives, minding our own business, and working with our hands. Being disruptive does not advance the cause of Christ. Being a troublemaker does not glorify God. It is pleasing to the Lord to be peaceable, mind your business, and work with your hands.
Second, Paul says we strive to live quietly, mind our business, and work with our hands so that we will not be dependent on anyone. We make decisions so that we do not need others to financially support us. Make decisions so that we do not need others to financially care for us. Christians are not your health insurance, property insurance, life insurance, debt relief plan, utility provider, home provider, or retirement plan. We are not the bailout bank for bad decisions. We are supposed to be making decisions so that we do not have to require that help. There is a real problem with the expectation that Christians will just take care of us. Paul does not instruct that. Paul says that we are to make every effort to take of our business as much as we possibly can. Christians trust for God to provide and they make provisions with the blessings they have for their future. Please hear what Paul told us 2 Thessalonians 3:10. God is perfectly fine with us not eating if we are not doing everything we can to provide for ourselves. Paul said he left an example of not being burden to any of them so that they would learn this message of love.
So here is the key message I want us to consider in our lesson today. Excelling more and more in love is not only about what we are actively doing for each other, but also what we are not doing to each other. We are not causing problems. We are not gossiping. We are not busy in everyone else’s business. We are not burdening others. We are not expecting others to do for us. Even 1 Corinthians 13 notes that there are a number of things that love does not do. Love is not arrogant or selfish or rude or demanding (cf. 1 Corinthians 13:4-5). If we love one another, then we are going to think about what we are not going to ask, demand, or expect from others. Love is not self-seeking. Love thinks about how we are affecting the other person. Love does not think about themselves. Let us excel still more in brotherly love.