1Thess 4:11-12, "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, 12 that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing."

This is a strange aspiration. Yet we are told that this is to be our goal in life, our ambition, we are to aspsire to quietness.

The word "aspire" means to strive (study, make it a point of honour) to be quiet, peaceful, peaceable. (not noisy, busybodies). Not part of the mob of turbulence and riot.

This is not written to society but to the church.

Lk 2:49, Jesus said, "I must be busy with my Father's business".

The story is told about a preacher who went out visiting one night, and the person he went to see was annoyed at the visit. He told the preacher wouldn't it be nice if everybody would mind their own business. And the preacher replied "saving souls and getting people to come to church is my business."

Don't meddle in other's affairs. "The devil finds some mischief, still, for idle hands to do" [Isaac Watts]. Yet, Phil 2:4 says "let each look not only to his own affairs but show concern for the affairs of others." It's different to interfering.

What this text does not mean:

• Weakness, spineless, timidity, "yes-man", standing for nothing.
• reducing your sharing with others or to warn or to help them. Sometimes keeping quiet is sinful: "Then they said one to another, 'We do not well: this day is a day of good tidings, and we hold our peace." II Kings 7:9.
• reduction of working for the Lord. Because Jesus said: "Go ye into all the world".
• being withdrawn, shy, reserved. (the monastic movement and other heresies have tended towards withdrawal from the world. This resulted in a separation between the "spiritual" and "secular".)
• no excellence, success and achievement.

So that you may lack nothing. Do honest work. God honours honest labour. (1st May 2006 is Labour Day). Remember Jesus who worked most of His life. Provide for your family. Some in Thessolonica were so excited about Lord's coming that they neglected their own work. (2Thess 3: 7-12, "...now we command you that you work quietly and not be busybodies.)

The results of obedience to this command:

- to make the gospel attractive to those outside (vs 12). It reveals to the world that the Christian leads a productive life even though he is spiritual. Martin Luther spoke of the "priesthood of all believers". We are to show that Christ is Lord over all of our lives. Whether we eat or drink (or pray and preach) we do it to the glory of the Lord.

- God is our reward. Jesus sees the quiet soul and will reward him openly: "Well done, good and faithful servant."