This “pray and do” principle is woven into Scripture, not just for our sustenance but for every aspect of our unfolding journey in this world. We pray for a car and we do our shopping, asking God for wisdom and provision.

 

“aspire to lead a quiet life” (1 Thess. 4:11, NKJV)

In Paul’s epistles we get glimpses of the situations in the various churches to which he writes. We can read between the lines to get an idea of controversies, conflicts, and circumstances at play.

In his letters to the Thessalonians, Paul speaks about how the people are to conduct their lives under the heading of loving one another. As an application of their being taught by God the lesson of love, he writes: “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, that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing” (1 Thess. 4:11–12).

We get insight into what the apostle is addressing from his second letter. “For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies. Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread” (2 Thess. 3:10–12).

Evidently, there were those in the church who were sitting by the door with their bags packed waiting for the imminent return of Christ. They had to eat, so they would end up sponging off their neighbor and creating a general nuisance of themselves.

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