Thess. 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; 10 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; 11 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.”
With all the complexities of life even Christ-followers find it hard to have any margin in our lives. We fill our time with activities and busyness and we find if difficult to slow down. However, it usually does not stop us from taking a couple hours out of our week to watch our favorite reality shows. If we really wanted strong families, harmonious marriages, and powerful prayer lives we would make the time to turn down the volume of life and spend our hours doing our best to lead a quiet life. I am not calling Christ-followers to turn to a monastic lifestyle. However, Paul knew the value of a quiet life.
Busyness is a god for some of us. There are so many things in our lives that get in the way of God and us. We become idolatrous when that happens. All of a sudden soccer games, football, baseball, church work, overtime, and climbing a ladder takes preeminence in our lives. We rationalize to our selves that this is worth it after all my kids are worth it, and my career will make a better home life, and if I have a little more money I can have the life that I always wanted. The problem is that there is never satisfaction. The kids will always have stuff that will pull at our family time, and the money will always be needed, and the ladder has never-ending rungs. Instead of living your fantasies through your kids, or grabbing the dollar that will never satisfy, take that time and stop, reevaluate your priorities in life. If you want an awesome marriage, you will not find that in a bigger home. If you want kids to be sold-out Jesus freaks, you will not find that by making your kids do something every night of the week.
Paul said, “Aspire to lead a quiet life”. If you turn down the noise and busyness of your chaotic life you will find more joy and happiness then you can ever imagine. Do not be too busy for Jesus, your spouse, or your kids.
Tomorrows Readings:
Old Testament: Isaiah 62-64 New Testament I Thess. 5
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