Aspire to Live Quietly
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“...aspire to live quietly...” (ESV)
1 Thessalonians 4:9-12
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; that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, 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.
Certain passages should intrigue us to a fuller and deeper understanding.
“Aspire to live quietly” (ESV), or “Study to be quiet" (KJV) is not your ordinary commandment from the Lord. What does it mean?
“Aspire”
“Aspire”
Meaning
The word “Aspire” or “Study” is not used here in the sense of applying the mind to acquire knowledge, but rather striving or aiming to bring something about.
"Aspire": EAGER, EARNEST, or AMBITIOUS to accomplish something.
Vines says, "Strive restlessly, or earnestly”. The concept seems to be, “Make it one’s aim”.
Paul in effect tells the Thessalonians to “Make it your wholehearted and earnest aim to live quietly”.
Paul’s ambitions: Rom 15:20; 2 Cor 5:9
And so I have made it my aim to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build on another man’s foundation,
Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him.
“Quiet”
“Quiet”
Meaning
Thayer defines "Quiet” in this passage “to lead a quiet life”, to “stay at home and mind their business”. "To be still, at rest; To live peaceably”
All Christians should make it their aim to lead a quiet life.
Does this mean we have to be completely passive, never moving anywhere?
Acts 11:17-18 - Peter had to explain everything about going to Cornelius’ home before those he spoke to “became silent” (same word) and gave God the glory for granting repentance to life to the Gentiles.
If therefore God gave them the same gift as He gave us when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could withstand God?”
When they heard these things they became silent; and they glorified God, saying, “Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life.”
Acts 21:11-14 - Paul believed was bound to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus. This “ceased” the protests by the brethren (including Luke) to not go up to Jerusalem.
When he had come to us, he took Paul’s belt, bound his own hands and feet, and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit, ‘So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt, and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’ ”
Now when we heard these things, both we and those from that place pleaded with him not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, “What do you mean by weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”
So when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, “The will of the Lord be done.”
A “quiet life” is not just preferred, but necessary.
Psalm 46 - God’s word should make us still and quiet us.
Some people are loud and boisterous, noisy; Their lives are disorganized and given to commotion.
Those bent upon personal success can easily become this way, because a life devoted to success in this world is a life without peace with God.
Many preachers become bent toward personal success, and if they are loved by many, they may indeed believe the things they are being told.
Think of well-known preachers among the brotherhood. We could name some who are well-known but don’t act like it. We may also know of others who are well-known and they sure do know it! Fame/ambition is dangerous to any christian, but especially to elders, preachers, and teachers of the word.
Those who are not “noisy” can still be burdened with the busyness of life which takes away focus from the Lord.
Our souls are put in danger by embracing the way that the world wants us to live. We must be different - “quiet”.
We have various ambitions. What a blessing that God has given us this one!
Paul has given them their needed ambition.
Notice, he doesn’t tell them to find something in life that they love, or wait for a voice to tell them what their ambition is. He gives it to them.
This does not mean all other ambitions are sinful; but this ambition is one of our main priorities.
Romans 2:5-8 - God gives us our ambition; we accomplish that ambition in His ways, not our own!
But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who “will render to each one according to his deeds”: eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath,
In the course of that ambition, God guides our lives. If we have the ambition that He wants, our lives will be molded by Him!
Essentials of a Quiet Life
Essentials of a Quiet Life
Be at peace with God.
Romans 8:16-17 - Jesus paid the penalty for sin that we might be reconciled to God.
The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.
The gospel is the message of reconciliation.
Colossians 1:19-23 - This is a powerful peace that we cannot replace with anything in this existence!
For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.
And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight—if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.
Know your anxieties and work on them by seeking God diligently.
All anxiety comes from sin. It could be my sin, or the sin of others. Regardless, it must be dealt with!
Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me, and know my anxieties;
And see if there is any wicked way in me,
And lead me in the way everlasting.
Matthew 6:24-34 - Examine and take seriously what Jesus says.
“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.
“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?
“So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
It is senseless to worry about things we cannot control.
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Be calm.
Calmness should be reflected in our daily lives.
Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!
A calm and composed mind can trust in the Lord to protect and deliver.
Looking at the world through this lens will give us the right perspective in order to live a life devoted to God.
Show patience.
And Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.”
Luke 21:19 - Jesus to the Apostles - you will suffer, but do not give up.
By your patience possess your souls.
We must persevere in the face of trials, pressure and problems.
To be constantly be “up in the air” is to advertise one’s own lack of stability
Titus 2:11-14 - His grace REACHES me, and TEACHES me (Larson Plyler). Uphold His will while understanding that God’s GRACE allows us to be patient with others in very lasting ways.
For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.
Attend to our own business.
2 Thessalonians 3:10-15 - We must be centered upon our own burdens to bear, and not needlessly poking into the lives of others.
For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. 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.
But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good. And if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.
Restlessness and curiosity combine to make some people meddlers. Some seem unable (or unwilling) to keep their nose out of the affairs of others.
Hendriksen writes, "Fanatics, busybodies, and loafers [...] Often one and the same person is all three!”
Matthew 7:1-5 - Get your log out of your eye so you can PROPERLY see the speck in your brother’s eye.
Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.