Minding Your own business
1 Thessalonians 4:11 And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; 4:12 That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.
Apostle Paul was describing the kind of godly conduct which leads to both pleasing God and a good reputation among other people in our verse above. Paul commands his readers to lead a peaceful life having brotherly love, to mind their own business, and to be industrious.
we should be quiet rather than anxious. Instead of constantly being upset about the circumstances of life, we should be people who trust that God is in control, He loves us, and He will never make a mistake. It is the quietness that comes from perfect trust. It is that sense of peaceful quiet like a child sound asleep in the arms of their father during a thunderstorm because they know their father will protect them. We can know that quiet of heart that comes from resting in the character of God’s greatness.
The second thing "mind our own business”. How often have you wanted to say this to someone? When people ask nosey questions, when they invade into your private conversations, and when they give unsolicited advice we would love to say, “Mind your own business”
There is a positive side to this also. By minding our own business God encourage us to focus our energies on what He has called us to do. Instead of criticizing what other people aren’t doing, are doing, or should be doing; we should focus on what God wants us to do.
Instead of being concerned about the rate of spiritual growth in someone else, we should be working on our own spiritual maturity. We should be developing our own relationship with Jesus Christ.
This does not imply that we shouldn’t care about other people. I don’t mean we shouldn’t care about the growth of the people around us. We are brothers and sisters in Christ of course we should care.
However, instead of putting all the focus on other people we should work hard on our own spiritual lives. We must leverage on the tendency to sit on the sidelines while we criticize what someone else is doing.
So here’s the question: when was the last time you stopped complaining about others and asked, “What is it that God wants ME to do for the building of His Kingdom?” If we all do what God wanted us to do, we would be as effective as a well-tuned engine.
God bless you.
Prayer key:
1. Lord, thank you for the blessing of today in Jesus Christ name.
2. Lord, forgive me for bring a busybody and neglecting the real business you have given me
3. Lord, give me the grace to always focus on what you have destined into my hands.
4. Thank you Lord for answered prayers in Jesus Christ name. Amen.