(1Th 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; (12)  That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.” “Work” so that you may “walk honestly” in the sight of the unsaved. The more wicked this world becomes, the more such men and women shine in the darkness. We want the blessings of the Lord. The Lord never blesses sin, so He will never bless the dishonesty of one of His children. Do right!  

(1Th 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;”    I once heard a preacher say, “The Lord always calls people who are active, doing something.”  I know when He calls a man into the ministry, it is always those who are already busy for Him. Laziness is the essence of living for self. I am afraid churches have a great many lazy people. We are saved to work through the New Testament church to minister and reach others. The Lord is not as concerned about your comfort as He is His work. What is it that you do in your church?

(1Th 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;”   “To do your own business”: we would say, “Mind your own business”. Our pride fools us into believing what we think is always best and right. In reality, we look down upon those who do not think as we think and do as we do. This is the sin of pride. The standard for all things is God’s Word – period. A person’s taste in color is every bit as right as what you might choose. That goes for clothes, cars, homes, etc.. 

(1Th 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;”  We live in a society where people boast of their aggressiveness. This is not the Spirit of Christ. We are always to be bold in speaking the truth, but at the same time, harmless as a dove. The wisdom to live this way can only come from a yielded heart to the Lord, asking Him moment by moment to direct us.  

 (1Th 4:10) “And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more;”  One might ask, “If this is God’s love coming through His Spirit in me to others, then why would it need to increase more and more?”  Answer: you and I each moment take back or give up ourselves to His service. I remind you of the filling of the Spirit’s instruction: (Eph 5:19) “Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;” What is that all about? Answer: the focus of the heart. Our minds are thinking of our Lord and thus on his work – therefore we are more ready to yield and love.  

(1Th 4:9) “But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.”   Question: if you are taught of God to love one another, then why do we not see more sacrificial love? There are only two possible answer I can think of: one, we are so rebellious as to ignore the prompting of the Holy Spirit to love; or two, we are not what we profess to be. I ask you before God today, “Which are you?”

 (1Th 4:9) “But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.”  I believe that in this matter of love, Believers fail the most. We love like the world loves; we love those who love us. Fleshly love is not sacrificial. The love spoken of here is God’s love, His loving through us, for it is sacrificial. It’s the love that is to love the unlovely. We even see sacrificial love less and less in our homes. If we cannot sacrificially love those even in our homes, we won’t love the true brothers and sisters of Christ. And we certainly won’t love those outside the brethren. Challenge yourself regarding the type of love you demonstrate. 

(1Th 4:8) “He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.”  If you are rejected or in some way persecuted for living for God, then it is not you who they despise, but the Lord in you – the Holy Spirit. The Lord Jesus told us that men love darkness rather than light. This is absolutely true. Fallen man will love you as long as you walk in agreement to them. But light reveals what is in darkness and who wants their sin revealed? Regardless, walk in way of the light, for you have been called to that life.  

(1Th 4:7)  “For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.”  We do not come to the knowledge and salvation of everlasting life without the Lord’s calling, “drawing”. The Bible says all men have gone “out of the way”. It says, “ No man seeketh after God”. Since that is true, God then draws us to Himself. Oh how wonderful and merciful our God is! He seeks out those who have sinned against Him and saves them through the blood of His Own Son!