The World Doesn’t Need You to Be Angry

Every so often, I find myself drawn to one specific book of the Bible. No matter how many times I read it, I can’t get away from it. Most often, that’s been the Psalms. But recently, it’s been 1 Thessalonians. While not being one of the more popular epistles, this letter and it’s encouragements for enduring perseverance, questions about anti-Christs, and calls for personal holiness in the last days, is one I’m stuck in (in a good way).

And it’s especially that call to holiness that keeps me pouring over the letter’s words, as he reminded the Thessalonians that their conduct affected their witness.

Idleness, busybodies, and taking advantage of others

One of Paul’s great concerns with the Thessalonians was a challenge he saw to their witness. Among them, there was an encroaching idleness, where those who were capable of working instead chose not to, instead opting to live off the charity of wealthier Christians. What exactly motivated this, we can’t say for sure. But whatever the case, their idleness contradicted their witness because “idle hands are the Devil’s playground,” as the saying goes.

Those who were idle found ways to busy themselves by becoming busybodies (2 Thessalonians 3:11)—getting up into other people’s business because they had no business of their own to get about. And if that wasn’t enough, they got themselves involved in public controversies they didn’t need to be involved with. So, Paul gave three challenges and commands in 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 as they grew in their love for God and one another:

• “Aspire to lead a quiet life” (11). They were to conduct themselves in a way that reflected the teachings of Christ. To have nothing to do with foolish controversies, as he would write in another letter.
• “Mind your own business” (11). They were to avoid becoming busybodies. Don’t stick your nose where it doesn’t belong, he was telling them.

While these first two charges are relatively straightforward, the final requires a bit more explanation.

• “Work with your own hands” (11). In saying this, Paul was not chastising the unemployed in general, but specifically those who were capable of working but chose not to. Those who can work should work to support themselves and their families rather than being dependent on others in a sinful sort of way. And in doing this, they would be “walk[ing] properly” (12)—showing love for others by not taking advantage of those who are generous.

The danger we still face

All three dangers warned against in verse 11 are the fruit of idleness. They breed division, deception, and discord. There is nothing godly about being busybodies, quarrelsome, or taking advantage of others. But love rooted in the gospel fosters peace, honesty, and harmony. And that love is attractive to those who don’t naturally experience it.

The Thessalonians were in danger of losing sight of this. And if those dangers they faced sound familiar, it’s because they’re familiar. Our society encourages idleness; we can see its bad fruit all around us. So much of the backbiting, slander, libel, accusations of liberal drift, and charges of shepherds being for sale is proof of this.

Idleness and its fruit are doubly dangerous for Christians. It damages relationships within the church, and it calls the credibility of our faith into question. In both instances, we lose.

Stay focused on what really matters

Remember, if Jesus said we’d be known as his disciples by our love for one another, what does it tell the people around us when we are as hostile and divisive as everyone else? We want to live faithfully in the world. We want to be radically committed to gospel-driven love—and with it, honesty, peace, and harmony.

So, if there’s any kind of encouragement I can offer you, or maybe even a challenge, it’s that. Strive to live faithfully, especially in times when people are tempted to get a little weird. Stop using social media. Turn off cable news. Unsubscribe from podcasts and channels that only serve up content that makes you angry.

Why? Because Jesus is better than anything that the world around us tries to make us mad about—even the things that actually are important. And so we want to be people who live like that’s true—people who have been transformed by their faith in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.

That’s what our neighbors need from us, even if they don’t know it. It’s what our kids need from us, whether they’re toddlers, teenagers, or adults off on their own adventures. It’s what whatever communities we are a part of now or in the future need. And it’s what we need for ourselves, now and until the day Christ returns.

Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash