Free Bible Commentary
“1 Thessalonians 4:9-12”
Categories: 1 Thessalonians“Now as to the love of the brethren, you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; for indeed you do practice it toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, to excel still more, and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands, just as we commanded you, so that you will behave properly toward outsiders and not be in any need.”
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The Thessalonians obviously excelled in the area of brotherly love because Paul urged them to “excel still more” in loving their brothers and sisters in Christ (verse 10). The spiritual tie that binds Christians together should be stronger and run deeper than that of any earthly relationship, even blood-relatives. We share in the most precious substance to ever grace this earth—the lifeblood of the Only Begotten Son of God (Acts 28:20). Sharing in Christ’s calling and sacrifice makes us kin on both the spiritual and blood level.
In verse 11 Paul told the Thessalonians to make it their ambition to do three things in particular that would actually be expressions of love for their brethren:
“Lead a quiet life” – When individual Christians comport themselves in ways that express the inner peace of Christ, it helps to quell the anxieties of the body of Christ as a whole.
“Attend to your own business” – It is good and appropriate to get involved in the lives of our brothers and sisters in Christ, but we must be careful to not allow our concern for them to lead to meddling in their private affairs.
“Work with your hands” – Any of us could fall upon hard times at any time and need a helping hand, but if we refuse to work to support ourselves and our own families, we become an undue burden on the congregation.
Yes, it is true that we should have affection for our brothers and sisters in Christ (Romans 12:10), and that we should do good things for them (Galatians 6:10), and give preference to them in honor (Romans 12:11). But maybe we’ve never considered that when we take good care of ourselves (mentally, spiritually and financially), we are actually demonstrating a deep love and concern for the body of Christ.
Please read 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 for tomorrow.
Have a blessed day!
- Louie Taylor
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