Have you ever read a Bible verse that shook you to your core?
My wife read a Bible verse a couple months ago and immediately shared it with me. Her first thought was, "I can't believe this is in the Bible". Her second thought was, "Has anyone else seen it?"
Carefully read this verse and mull it over. Tell me it doesn't make you a little uncomfortable.
"Make it your goal to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands, just as we instructed you before" 1 Thessalonians 4:11
Make it your priority to live a quiet life
Make it your priority to mind your own business
Make it your priority to work with your hands
YOU obey God's Word
Tell me, does any of these 4 Bible commands (yes they are commands -- not suggestions) sound like the American Dream?
I am NOT going to preach a sermon here, but I do want God to personally challenge you to reexamine your priorities.
"quiet life" -- literally means not to speak inappropriately and to live free of hostility. Does this describe the life in your home? Sorry, that was preaching. The ability to live a quiet life is an example of the life transforming power of the Gospel.
"mind your own business" -- 2 Thessalonians 3:11-12, "we hear that some of you are living idle lives, refusing to work and meddling in other people’s business. We command such people and urge them in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and work to earn their own living."
"work with your hands" -- the Greeks believed that they should never stoop to do manual labor. They believed that working with their hands was degrading. So Paul was challenging Christians to do their best at their jobs. Colossians 3:23, "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters". Luke 3:14, “Don’t extort money or make false accusations. And be content with your pay.”
"just as we instructed you before" -- Ask yourself this, "Will you give God's Word the authority to transform your life into a life that pleases God?"
This afternoon I met with a young man that is making some difficult life choices. As he was explaining his options (or lack of options), I was praying and asking God to guide our conversation and thoughts.
Finally I asked the young man, "Do you trust God?"
He was pretty much noncommittal in his answer and beat around the bush.
I congratulated him on being honest. I told him that he needed to move slowly in his decisions and wait for God to transform his life.
He kept asking me "where" I thought God wanted him to work and "where" God wanted him to live.
The truth is, God will work in that young man's life no matter where he goes.
Pastor Rick Warren likes to say, "God is more interested in transforming your life than making you happy".
So your spiritual takeaway for today is, "Will you open your mind to God's Word and allow it to challenge your priorities, your values, your desires, your attitudes, your goals, and your actions?"
