Sermon Tone Analysis

1 Thessalonians 4:11,12

Ambition Pleasing to God

 

Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.

In a previous study of the fourth chapter of this Thessalonian letter, we directed attention to the need for brotherly love and the practical implications for the church which demonstrates brotherly love./

/The present sermon will focus on the issue of ambition and encourage the cultivation of godly ambition.

In the original language, the words translated by these two concepts (/brotherly love/ and /ambition/) are similar.

It is as though Paul was deliberately and quite naturally leading from the one to the other.

Indeed!

He is making a natural transition, although we are not always aware of the relationship in our English translation.

Love for the brothers will lead us to review our ambitions in order to insure that we have their welfare in view.

Man's thinking does not always portray ambition in the best light.

You will recall that in Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, Caesar derided Marc Antony for *having big eyes* – for being ambitious.

Nevertheless, each of us recognises that without ambition we are destined to accomplish no great feats nor may we anticipate success in our various endeavours.

Thus we endeavour to balance ambition with social responsibility and with responsibilities to our families and responsibilities arising in our religious life.

There is *ambition pleasing to God*, however, and in our text Paul speaks of that ambition.

Whether you are in school or seeking employment or now working, whether you are hoping to remain in your current position or advance within the structure of your employer or whether you hope to secure another position, there is this word to guide you and to direct your considerations.

/Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody./

With these words Paul outlines *ambition pleasing to God*.

The Apostolic Commands are Threefold: That we Should Lead Quiet Lives, Mind our Own Business, and Work with our Own Hands.

The Bible is an amazing book, eminently practical in all that it teaches.

God is not unconcerned with our daily activities nor yet with the conduct of our lives lived out before our watching neighbours.

The manner of our lives reveals the glory of His work in us.

Therefore, God has provided instruction so that none may plead ignorance of the divine will.

In this first verse of our text Paul focuses on three areas where we ought to demonstrate ambition which is pleasing to God.

Godly Ambition Directs Us to Live Contentedly.

kai; filotimei`sqai hJsucavzein.

*Make it your ambition to have no ambition* is the meaning, or perhaps *be ambitious to be quiet*.

The words Paul chose are something of an oxymoron.

It is not that Paul is instructing us to lack zeal for our work, nor to fail to work at whatever task we may be assigned, nor yet to fail to seek advancement at whatever we may do; rather, the Apostle is teaching us that we should learn contentment.

The Christian should reveal a spirit of acceptance leading to success in whatever station of life that believer might occupy.

You may recall Paul’s instruction to the Philippians: I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.

I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty.

I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.

I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

[*Philippians** 4:10b-13*].

These words serve as an expression of confidence in God as ruler of life.

As such, they serve as a model for each Christian from which we may draw inspiration and strength and encouragement, and by which each of us may be instructed.

/I have learned to be content/ is the equivalent of *make it your ambition to have no ambition*.

Godly ambition is seen in a quiet life expressing contentment with God as ruler.

In the first letter to the Corinthians Paul spoke of this same matter of seeking and of finding personal peace regardless of one’s situation.

Each one should remain in the situation which he was in when God called him.

Were you a slave when you were called?

Don't let it trouble you — although if you can gain your freedom, do so.

For he who was a slave when he was called by the Lord is the Lord's freedman; similarly, he who was a free man when he was called is Christ's slave.

You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men.

Brothers, each man, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation God called him to./

/ [*1 Corinthians 7:20-24*].

If the child of God can better himself or herself through education, through advancement in employment, through obtaining greater responsibility, he or she should do so.

But education, advancement and responsibility are incapable of ensuring contentment; contentment lies within the individual.

Therefore, though well educated and able to engage in vigorous intellectual discussion covering a wide range of subjects with the most capable debater, Paul wrote of the secret of being content in any and every situation through resort to Him who gives strength.

Just so, we discover contentment not through personal attainment, but through rest in Christ as Lord over the whole of life, and His lordship includes even our position and attainments.

The Apostle, comfortable in the presence of nobility and scholars, was equally at home in the company of the simple and unlearned.

He knew the secret of contentment; he knew the secret of Christ.

Paul found it especially necessary to write the Thessalonians because some within that congregation had become busybodies and others had seemingly sensed that position within the Church was a means to obtain power.

In a few short paragraphs Paul will identify these individuals as a]taktoi – *idlers* [*1 Thessalonians 5:14*].

In classical Greek, a]takto" was applied to an army in disarray and to undisciplined soldiers who either broke rank instead of marching properly or who were insubordinate.

The word in time came to describe any kind of irregular or undisciplined behaviour.

Then, by the time Paul wrote the word was commonly used in contracts to speak of an irresponsible attitude toward work.

That is what Paul has in view here … Christians who were irresponsible in Christian life and service, the irresponsibility being seen in daily life.

Such *idlers* were rebuked for their idleness in daily life and because of the distortion of spiritual power by their lack of discipline.

Just so, you and I, should we twist the will of God or distort Christ’s design need to be rebuked by His Word.

We are to be workers and not shirkers if we belong to Christ.

God is known for His work, and Christ also claimed to work; He was active and energetic; work characterised our Lord.

My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working [*John 5:17*].

If we will emulate our Great Example we will find work for our hands and for our hearts.

Of Jesus, the prophets had prophesied:

He will not quarrel or cry out;

no one will hear his voice in the streets.

A bruised reed he will not break,

and a smouldering wick he will not snuff out,

till he leads justice to victory.

In his name the nations will put their hope.

[*Matthew 12:19-21*]

 

If this is true of Christ our example, ought we not learn to rest in Him, to cease noisy efforts to convince the world of our greatness, and gently, quietly, patiently reveal the power of His love through our service.

If this is true of Christ, we ought to be rebuked if we imagine that ministry, our service to His people as we fill the position wherein He placed us, confers power on us.

Ministry is not a path to power but an opportunity to glorify Christ and to magnify His Name.

Godly Ambition Urges Us to Accept Responsibility for our own Daily Affairs.

These a]taktoi, these *idlers*, had proved themselves to be authorities adept at administering the business of others.

Masters at directing the affairs of fellow believers while neglecting their own business affairs, they unwittingly brought reproach to the cause of Christ.

Paul soundly rebuked these *idlers* in his second letter to this church (the first rebuke seemingly having proved insufficient to bring about the desired correction in their lives).

In that second letter Paul confronts these *idlers*.

We hear that some among you are idle.

They are not busy; they are busybodies [*2 Thessalonians 3:11*].

He then issues this command:/ /Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the bread they eat [*2 Thessalonians 3:12*].

These people were no longer merely idle; they had become meddlers who were affecting others.

At some time you have perhaps heard the old saying: *idle hands are the devils workshop*.

That was true of these and such is ever the case: idleness breeds restlessness; and restlessness ensures meddling in the affairs of others.

These instructions were not something new to these saints, for the church had been instructed in practical Christianity during the brief missionary visit when the church was planted.

Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, *just as we told you*.

Would you not suppose that reference was to the time during the missionaries’ brief sojourn in Thessalonica?

During that stay the missionary band had provided an example, labouring with their own hands [*1 Thessalonians 2:9*] so that they might be an example to the nascent church [*2 Thessalonians 3:7-9*], all the while providing verbal instruction [*2 Thessalonians 3:10*].

We are not at liberty to apply this teaching to the unwaged who are compelled to draw unemployment benefits or who live on welfare.

Such conditions are both a symptom of economic recession and traumatic personal experience.

We live in economically unstable times, and many find themselves out of work due to changing work conditions.

Though well prepared through education and training, others have difficulty in finding employment.

Individuals in these particular situations are not in view, and we are grateful and willing to provide from our own incomes to insure that any such individuals are cared for during the vexing transition.

Others, through no design of their own, are unable to provide fully for their daily care.

Any Christian is willing to insure that such unfortunate individuals are not forgotten in our society.

Paul condemns not unemployment as such (when people want to work but cannot find it), but idleness (when work is available but people do not want it).

He is emphasising that we should be keen to earn our own living, in order to support our family and ourselves and so we need not rely on others.