If people walk with me, talk with me, looking for truth
They’re gonna find out soon
If they’re following me, then they’re gonna follow you
So let my life speak loud and clear
Lord, I wanna hear
“Well done.”
Well Done – Mariah Peters
I want to live a life that pleases God. I’m pretty sure if you’re reading this blog, you do, too. It’s not always an easy thing to do. We all want to stand before the Father at the end of our lives on earth and hear,
“Well done, good and faithful servant. Come share in your Master’s happiness” (Matt. 25:21).We know going to church, giving tithes and offerings, helping others, and all that good church-going stuff; but Paul gives some pretty clear instructions to the church in Thessalonica as to how to live a life that pleases God. This week, we’ll take a look at some of them.
Earn the Respect of Others
“…and 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.” I Thessalonians 4:11-12
It might surprise you to learn that “In God We Trust” wasn’t always on our U.S. coins. The first copper penny in the U.S. was designed by Benjamin Franklin. One side bore the motto, “We Are One,” surrounded by a chain of thirteen links representing the thirteen colonies. On the other side, the sun shone down on a sundial, with the word, “Fugio,” (Latin, meaning “I fly) and the year 1787 on either edge. At the bottom was a reminder: “Mind Your Business.” The meaning of the three things together was, “Time flies – do your work.”
While “In God We Trust” is certainly a worthy motto, Franklin’s motto was also an excellent reminder. It’s so easy to get caught up in everyone else’s business. Let’s face it – social media is a great tool for keeping in touch, but some people put every single event of their lives on Facebook. Before you know it, you’ve spent hours reading, liking, and commenting … and now you’re behind on other things because you were too busy minding the business of others instead of your own.
It’s not just social media. We let so many things interfere with what we’re supposed to do. Sometimes it can’t be helped. But many times, it’s solely our choice.
The admonition here is very simple. Do what you’re supposed to do. If you are working and being productive, chances are you’re also creating a way to pay for the things you need – housing, food, etc – so that you’re never dependent on anyone else. I’m not talking about the hard times when we really need help. This happens to almost everyone at one point or another. What I’m talking about is a lifestyle of reliance on others, a life in which you don’t even try to earn your own way, or you take on large amounts of unnecessary debt that could’ve been avoided. This is another topic for another day, but the admonition from Paul is clear. Be as independent as you possibly can. Take care of yourself and your family.
Being hard-working and self-reliant also leads to this: remember that in everything you do, every aspect of your life, you are a representative of Christ, and therefore your actions or inaction reflects on him. If you want people to respect Christ, earn their respect yourself. Show the world that Christians are different, not because of who we are, but because of all He did and who He is. Let the world see just how much Jesus can change your life. Let them see Jesus in you.
Your greatest testimony isn’t the “God story” you tell people. It’s the everyday life you live.
In His Love,
Amy