Mind Your Own Business

Daily Devotional – Monday, June 7, 2021

…that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you.

1 Thessalonians 4:11 (NKJV)

Busybodies are found in almost every society and workplace. They are always busy doing nothing productive.

They know a lot about everyone in the neighborhood. Who is dating who? Who fought who? Who bought what? Who is the latest visitor in town? Nothing escapes their notice.

Considering their unceasing pursuit of ‘classified’ information, talebearers are rarely productive. Their greatest achievement is researching the lives of others.

If you think this is a modern practice, you need to read 1 Thessalonians 4:11. “…that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you.”

Paul commanded the Christians in Thessalonica to live peaceably. They were not to meddle in the affairs of their fellow church members. Each was to concentrate on their own issues. This would give them time to engage in productive labour.

“We don’t have enough time”, we love to say. On the other hand, we may be spending precious time annoying others with our unnecessary and uninvited meddling.

Let us live by Paul’s counsel. A quiet unpretentious life is a blessing to us and those around us. Our godly influence on other will be more powerful if we respect other people and their affairs.

Also, if we work diligently, we will have enough to cater for our needs and to assist those in need.

Are there changes you need to make to live by Paul’s counsel?

Father, help me to live a quiet life, to mind my own business, and to work with my hands.