Living a Quiet Life – The Quest in Today’s Busy Life

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.  2 Thes 4:11-12

To lead a quiet life . . . ?  No T.V., Internet, movies, cell phone, text messaging, car noise, radio, CDs, airplanes overhead, no email, constant barrage of junk mail from ads . . . a quiet life? 

Today we know what’s going on around the world almost instantly because of the media.  This will affect your spirit and ability to be quiet in the Lord.  With such a constant inundation of noise, how can one be quiet? 

Obviously Paul was talking about quiet in the sense of minding your own business and staying clear of other’s affairs.  Yes, this too can bring unrest.   There are areas that we simly don’t need to go into with the affairs of others that don’t toward Christ.

And then the part of working so that you’re not dependant on anyone.  This is self sufficency.  This is the ability of an individual to work – have their own business – support themselves and the family for generations and . . . lead toward a quiet life.

Father this day I thank you for quietness from all that’s going on in Silicon Valley and surrounding ministry.  I thank you for provision so that we / I can give to others in need.  This is your will. . . quietness and giving.  This is my desire today and I thank you for it!

 

 

Paul couldn’t stand it any longer . . . His urge to care for God’s people

So when we could stand it no longer, we thought it best to be left by ourselves in Athens. We sent Timothy, who is our brother and God’s fellow worker in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith, so that no one would be unsettled by these trials.   1 Thes 3:1-3

Did you see that?  Paul got to a place where he couldn’t stand it any longer.  He got to his limit.  He had reached his end.  He was at the end of his rope so to say.  For what and why?  The people that he had been entrusted to him.   He was concerned for them.  He thought about and prayed for them.  He knew there were trials they were experiencing.  And when he couldn’t stand it any longer for his concern for them he sent Timothy to see how they were doing. 

Oh that we’d have that same care for disciples today.  Oh that I would have that same care too!  Somehow and in the course of our church lifestyle, we seem to have drifted away from the basic elements of discipleship.  Jesus called me to make disciples .  . .   Oh how we become busy and other focused with the affairs of ministry that distract us from our calling.  Somewhere our / my heart can become callassed to the hearts of those that want help.  Yes, we need leadership to set up and manage the people so that we can equip saints for the work of ministry.  But if we / I loose that heart that Paul had here, then ministry can be reduced to a job and administrative functions.

Jesus, thank you that in my heart you keep drawing me back to the basics of what I’m suppose to do.  I pray today to you go before me and keep my focused on those items that lead to encouraging others.  I turn, repent, ask forgiveness today for my heart getting caught up with the affairs of ministry that lead me to be discouraged with ministry.  I pray for a fresh annointing, desire, purpose and passion as Paul was . . . to send someone to see how others were doing and to encorage them.  Who can do I this to today?