Work hard and dont be dependent

I was reading in 1 Thessalonians 4 and this verse really stuck out to me "Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to 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 get two things from this. The first is that we should mind our own business. To put this in some context, apparently the church in Thessalonica was getting bogged down by unscriptural arguments and interferences between its members. Therefore, Paul instructs them not to stir up unrest for the sake of it and to first concentrate on their own affairs.

The point is that you should worry about your own affairs rather than interfering in another person's life to make yourself look better. This parallels with Jesus' statement (Matt 7:5) "You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye". It seems obvious from this that God wants us concentrate on our own affairs first, and that through that you will in-fact win the respect of others. It is through your deeds that you should gain respect, not by pointing out the deficiencies in others (It is interesting that the earliest Christians were know as "The Way" as they were known for their actions as a result of their beliefs, not simply for their faith alone). It is important to keep in mind though, that as it is Christ we serve, therefore this respect should bring Glory to the Father. This is why we are told in 1 Peter (4:11) to be act with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised.

Secondly this passage instructs us that we should work and not be dependent on anybody. God instructs us to work and to work hard as it is Jesus we are serving in our work (Colossians 3:23-24: "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving"). This is a message for all Christians, Paul, who wrote these words, made tents to finance his activities to spread the Gospel around Eastern Europe/Asia Minor. He was not wholly dependent on others to fund his activities for God. I think it is crucial that we do not rely on the financial generosity of others to an extent we become dependent. It annoys me when people who call themselves Christians ignore this, become lazy and are dependent on others. I agree 100% that we should be generous and help others who need it, but that is not the same as providing for those who simply do not strive to lose their dependence on others. Perhaps controversially, I also think some people undertaking missions need to keep this verse in mind and along with financial support from the church, they should aim to reduce their dependence on this aid as much as possible (which many missionaries do).

As Christians we should work hard at our jobs to gain the respect of others, rather than pointing out their flaws. In doing this we should also reduce the possibility of our dependence on others.

What Should Be My Motivation

Coming back to work after an awesome three week holiday with the family, I'm hit with the feeling that much of our employment really never changes much, and its a tad depressing. I am so glad that I know that this really is not all there is. My motivation is not to pass the day so that I can return to do the same activity tomorrow but as Paul says in Philippians 3 v14 "I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus".

My motivation is Christ and the goal He has promised us. Many do not understand or grasp what this means, but I take comfort in the fact that this is not some new phenomenon and Paul has told us about this. Philippians 3 v 18 "For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body". Therefore I strive to keep my trajectory and mind on heavenly things. In attempting to do this, all the stress and things which depress really lose significance.