The first article this year was “Start This Year Well.” We explored 10 great action points. January is almost over, and some of the emotional energy of starting a new year is wearing off. So, we ask the question – how can you live well this year? The entire year!
Afterall, it’s an on-going question.
Let’s Tear Into – Live Well This Year
We always explore four categories in Scripture dissection:
- What Does It Say?
- What Does It Mean?
- Make It Personal.
- Make A Commitment.
1. What Does It Say?
As we tear into “live well this year,” we focus on a passage that has very practical action points. 1 Thess. 4:11-12.
- “. . . make it your ambition to lead a quiet life. You should mind your own business and 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.”
That’s what those verses say.
2. What Does It Mean?
A phrase that’s used several times in 1 Thess is “more and more.” Subsequently, as we look at what our verses mean, it’s with this perspective – more and more.
Now, let’s look at the first verse – 1 Thess. 4:11.
“. . . make it your ambition to lead a quiet life. You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you . . .”
Interestingly, this verse automatically divides into three sections. Let’s look:
1. Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life.
How interesting that Paul starts with leading a quiet life. Additionally, he says this should be your ambition. In other words, quietly get going and do what God has put in front of you. This includes any influence you have over scenarios and people around you.
2. You should mind your own business.
A simple sentence that says so much! Afterall, isn’t it when you start poking into affairs and scenarios that are none of your business that life gets complicated? In fact, sometimes messy.
I suppose Paul knew people have a limited attention span. Mind your own business means – be focused, alert, and creative – add your unique personality – as you add value to God’s creation and your community.
3. Work with your hands.
It’s note-worthy that God made people to engage meaningful work on a daily basis. Incidentally, not just career. In fact, it encompasses everything. Your family, property, home-life, community, church, remembering the poor and orphans, etc.
God blesses the work of your hands when you work with your hands for His glory. Subsequently, God prepared in advance good works for you to do during your life. (Eph. 2:10)
Now, let’s look at that second verse: 1 Thess. 4:12.
“So that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.”
You have 365 days in this year. How have you invested each day so far?
Incidentally, God wants you to win the respect of outsiders. How else will His Kingdom grow? Have you ever considered God wants you to be a capable contributor in your community?
Actually, God wants you to have a productive life where “others respect” means – you work to add blessing, not burden, to God’s outcomes.
That’s what those verses mean.
3. Make It Personal
Now, it’s time to consider how to make these verses personal. This is where that idea of “more and more” comes in. So, let’s consider two approaches: live well and love well.
Live Well
If you apply your energy to lead a quiet life, mind your own business, and work hard at what matters each day, you will –
- Avoid much trouble.
- Side-step many entanglements.
- Live without fear.
- Be content.
In essence, you will live well. Then, when trouble comes your way – and it will – your practice of living a quiet life and trusting God will open up best responses.
Consequently, you’ll find you are able to better navigate through tangled issues around you. Plus, you will know you are safe in Christ.
It’s very challenging in the thick of trials to stay free from anxiety. Truly, it seems everywhere you turn, there is some kind of threat, loss, or energy-sucking, unknown element.
This reality provides the perfect training environment to trust Jesus. You can intentionally take up His promises and practice His peace, believing He cares for you and is working to see you through your difficulties. It forces you to choose –
worry
OR
trust God.
Love Well
As you live well, the Lord also wants you to love well. To care deeply about your relationships – with God always first.
Critically, the only way to love well is to love yourself, too. Why is this so? Well, God made you in this fashion. Interestingly, His standard is to “love others as you love yourself!” (Mk. 12:31)
Loving is doing what is best for another person. It takes insight and courage to give what someone else needs. It also includes gentle, kind, constructive accountability.
Love is such a gift to another person. Sometimes, love must be tough!
Again, it starts with you and God. God’s love is your source of life and power. Frankly, it –
- Saves you.
- Delights you.
- Quiets you.
- Gives you joy.
- Empowers you.
Truly, you need God first and most. The God who raised Jesus from the dead will raise you up in daily issues. He will lift you above troubles and trials by His love. So –
Love well!
Hunger And Thirst
Have you noticed people keep reaching for something to satisfy their inner person? Subsequently, they instinctively know there’s more to life. In fact, they quite literally hunger and thirst. Interestingly, Jesus says the one who hungers and thirsts after righteousness – will be filled! (Mt. 5:6)
Conclusively, people need love to live well. Loving well adds value, joy, and belonging, all which promote living well. Plus, loving well does the hard things. It means –
- Walking through thick and thin,
- Putting a blanket of kindness and grace over brokenness, even when it’s not deserved.
- It also means living sacrificially like Jesus modeled.
Lose Anxiety And Just Trust God
As you cease to be anxious and transfer your dependency from others onto Christ, you become more –
- Peaceful.
- Credible.
- Poised.
- Relaxed.
Indeed, when you lose anxiety and just trust God, you become a better person. Plus, you love yourself correctly. Interestingly, when you truly love God first, you are finally able to “love others as you love yourself!”
God’s Promises Are Always “YES!”
God’s promises come alive as you live to please Him. They are always “yes!” (2 Cor. 1:20) God will keep every promise He has made as you believe Him.
In a similar way, the commands of God are also “yes!” God gives commands and instructions to help you. It’s not a tug-of-war between you and God. At least, it shouldn’t be. Nor is it negotiation and compromise.
Living in God’s “yes” is –
- Living by faith.
- Loving God back.
- Loving others.
- Obeying God.
- Rejoicing.
- Training and growing in godliness.
- Connecting with God’s original design to be the real you.
- Doing all this more and more.
When Will Jesus Come Back?
Jesus IS coming back. What a day that will be! Picture the scenario Scripture describes:
First, Jesus returns for all to see. Simultaneously, a loud command is heard over all the earth. Plus, a trumpet blast breaks the sound barrier. Strangely, people rise from the dead.
You, if you are still alive, rise up to join them with Jesus in the sky. Consequently, there has never been, nor will there ever again be a day like that.
Indeed, you will be exceedingly glad you chose to live well and love well. So, why not put yourself on this path today. Sincerely, stay inside everything Jesus calls “yes!” Both His promises and His commands.
All these ideas help you make those verses personal.
4. Make A Commitment – Application Thoughts And Questions
- Do you have an ambition to live a quiet life?
- Further, do you mind your own business?
- Additionally, do you work with your hands to do whatever God has put in front of you?
- Name ways you have learned to live well.
- Next, identify ways you love well. What practical things can you do to show you love people this week?
- Now, identify ways you can love better.
- Will you commit to live and love more and more?
- Strategically, how can you claim God’s promises and obey His commands? Remember, this helps you live well and love well.
These questions help you make a commitment that matches your life to God’s Word.
If you have come to appreciate our weekly articles and our podcast that contains the same content, please pray about becoming a donor to Alive and Active Life with a one-time gift OR become a regular donor. Thank you for praying about this!
* Portions of this content come from my book – More e-Pistles For An i-Generation: Relevant In A Digital Age – a devotional book that takes you through all Paul’s letters that follow 1 and 2 Corinthians. You’ll find practical action points that help you know God better and nurture personal growth. You can find this book in our bookstore: www.aliveandactivelife.org/store.
I invite you to follow us on your favorite social media. Do sign up on our email list to receive weekly articles. PLUS tune-in to our weekly podcast using your preferred podcast app or use our online player at the top of each article.
Visit our website for resources to get into God’s Word and live an Alive and Active Life.
