Mind Your Own Business, Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Reading: I Thessalonians 4:11-12, 11Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, 12so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.

In college, I had an extremely high metabolism and I was a soccer player, not a great combination to build massive muscles and lift large amounts of weight. When I would walk into the weight room, I would immediately feel self conscious of my weight lifting abilities, especially when football linemen were working out in the gym or some of the wrestlers. Even more embarrassing was one of the wrestlers, who was over a foot shorter than I was, that could lift 3 times my weight. One of the most difficult things for me to learn in that setting was not to pay attention to what others were doing but to focus on what I was able to do. Just work hard and do the best that I could do and be satisfied with results.

That is what Paul is attempting to communicate to the Thessalonians. He is not talking about the attention that we must to pay to the needs of other because Paul also encouraged these same people to bear one another’s burdens. He is specifically encouraging them to do is exactly what I had to learn in the weight room. Don’t compare! Don’t get discouraged by what other people can do, rather, make it your ambition to focus on what you are doing and what you need to do for Christ. God works uniquely different in each one of us. He knows where we are at and what we need to do to take the next step. If you don’t get discouraged by where you are, but continue working, your daily life will win the respect of others and it will not “drain” people who have to stop their “workout” to help and encourage you. That is exactly why Paul said to “not be dependent on anybody”. God wants all of us to be able to continue “working out”. Notice, Paul said to “make it your ambition” that leaves room that if you truly need help and encouragement, you can still receive it.

Without comparing yourself to others, what is the next step that you need and will take for Christ and work for Him today?

REVIEW

Did you refrain from comparing yourself to others today?

What did you do today to work and take the next step for Christ today?