Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another, for that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more, and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one. – 1 Thessalonians 4:9-12 (ESV)
James Grant writes:
Paul now gets very practical about what brotherly love should look like. Paul told us to love one another and to live well with one another. Now he tells us what that looks like. Paul gives us three admonitions, three commands that we are called to obey, and then gives us two reasons why these commands are important. First, Paul commands us to live a quiet life. Many translators have noted that this is something of an oxymoron. Gordon Fee explains that it could literally be translated, “strive hard to live quietly.” He also points out that the word “quiet” here does not carry the idea of “not speaking” or “being restful” but of not intruding into the lives of other people, especially brothers and sisters in the faith, and so become a burden to the. Paul is instructing us to live our lives in such a way as not to burden others, but he is also warning us not to draw attention to ourselves.
MEMORY WORK – Shorter Catechism Q/A 31
Q. 31. What is effectual calling?
A. Effectual calling is the work of God’s Spirit, whereby, convincing us of our sin and misery, enlightening our minds in the knowledge of Christ, and renewing our wills, he doth persuade and enable us to embrace Jesus Christ, freely offered to us in the gospel.