Study To Be Quiet!

1 Thessalonians 4:9-12 Study to be Quiet

Friends in Christ,

At Kent State, where I teach, as with almost all colleges, there are a group of classes that are core courses – everyone must take them as part of their education, regardless of major or career goal. Math, history, sociology, English, psychology, speech. For most students, core courses are not exciting. Almost no one wants to take them, but everyone knows that they are essential.

But, having said that, let me add this to underscore the importance of learning the basics: a college physics professor was explaining a basic concept to his class of freshmen when a student interrupted him. "Why do we have to learn this stuff? I’ll never use physics in my life." The class looked up in shock, wondering how the professor would respond. He seemed unphased. After a brief period of silence, the professor calmly replied, “You have to take this class in order to save lives.” Not understanding what the professor meant by that comment, the student petulantly asked, "How does this class save lives?" The professor stared at the student, smiled, looked at the other students, and then said matter-of-factly, "Physics saves lives because it keeps poor students like you out of medical school.” // Enough said.

So that the Thessalonicans – and us by extension – had every opportunity to succeed in living the Christian faith, St. Paul wrote like a wise instructor, “We urge you, brothers and sisters, to … make it your ambition to lead a quiet life … study to be quiet and 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 anyone.”

“Study to be quiet”? To live peaceful lives? To influence others? Yes. These are aspects of our Christian faith that seems to either have not been learned, or learned and forgotten. Today, with Paul’s words as our guide, allow me to remind you of the importance of applying your faith to life.

1. The point is this: quietness, peacefulness, and productivity can make significant differences in our lives as well as in the lives who know us. St. Paul wrote plainly, “You should mind your own business and work with your hands.” Some in the congregation were busy being busybodies – gossiping, talking out of turn, intruding in the lives of others, failing to work with earnestness. They were wasting time, unsettling others, and being poor examples to those who watched them. Allow me to illustrate. // Mildred, a self-appointed monitor of everything in her church, was known for being involved in everyone else’s business. Because of her meddlesome ways, most members simply kept their distance from her. They did not want to become a topic for her gossip. Then, it happened! Frank, a new member of the congregation, who had, with God’s help, turned his life around significantly, became Mildred’s target. After church, loudly, to any and all who would listen, she blistered Frank: “I saw your truck outside of a local bar yesterday. You were probably drinking, and you are setting a terrible example for the other members our church.” One thing Frank was not, was one to easily lose his temper or talk back. He looked at Mildred, listened until she finished, and then quietly walked away. He did not attempt to explain, defend, or deny. But, he did have a response to Mildred’s gossip. That evening, when it turned dark, Frank drove his truck to Mildred’s house, parked it under the street lamp in front of Mildred’s house, and walked home, leaving it there all night for others to see – and interpret.

2. William Barclay, a British New Testament scholar of a past generation, has written that many in the Thessalonican congregation had stopped living as students of God’s Word and ways. Instead of living productive lives, earning their way in life, and influencing others for good, some, while waiting for Christ to return, had given up their daily work. Some in the congregation could be found at church and in the neighborhood standing in small groups wasting time on foolish conversations and gossip. Ordinary life had become disrupted, disoriented, discouraging, dismal.

It was a life not unlike that which we experience as we live under the pressures of Covid, a European war, high costs for almost everything, shortages of many things, and a feeling of defeat that robs us of a confident faith in our loving Heavenly Father. We can easily spend hours online reading about people, propositions, theories, and conspiracies that detract us from good and godly living. It is sin in the form of wasted opportunity to do good, influence others, and please God.

3. To help instruct – to inform – the congregation, St. Paul wrote, “We urge you, brothers and sisters, … to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life. You should study to be quiet and 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 anyone.”