A QUIET LIFE

A QUIET LIFE

            I read my devotion verse today before I started walking. The verse for the day was “Aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, “1 Thessalonians 4: 11 NIV.  Later, when I turned the corner on the road toward Crestwood, I saw Mr. Boyer mowing his yard. I often see him working as I walk. Watching him working with his hands reminded me of the verse I had read earlier about working with your hands and leading a quiet life.

            Christians are to aspire to lead a quiet life and mind our own business.  A QUIET LIFE???  And how do I do that in our culture today?  How can I mind my own business when so many put so much “business” out there for the world-Facebook, Twitter, evening news, talk shows and local newspapers.

            My desire is to lead a quiet life and mind my own business, but I want to help my neighbor and to pray for the problems of the world. I want to rejoice when my friends are happy and cry when they are sad. How can I do both? What does Paul mean when he writes “mind my own business?” Perhaps he is talking about all the petty quarrels and gossip that circulates even in our churches. Maybe he is reminding us again about judging our neighbor’s action before removing the beam from our own eye.

            God tells us to “be still” and the Psalmist writes about “still waters.” Jesus drew away from the crowds in order to pray. He told us to go into “our closet.” All of this reminds me not to be so caught up in my daily living and other people’s business (even though I may have good intentions) that I forget to take that quiet time for my own spiritual and physical well-being.

            “If a man will not work, he shall not eat.” Paul admonishes the people at Thessalonica to keep busy so that they would not become busybodies. (Don’t you love his play on words?)  An old adage states “idle hands are the devil’s workshop.” God intends for us to work. He tells us if our work is for the Lord then our labor is not in vain. (my paraphrase) I pray each day that I might mind my own business and do some work that will bring honor to my Lord.           

As I walk and think, I decide that I actually do “aspire to lead a quiet life” and because I do the rest will follow.  May you, too, seek to lead a quiet life as you continue your walk.