STUDY TO BE QUIET (2)

TOPIC: STUDY TO BE QUIET (2)
TEXT: 1 THESSALONIANS 4:1-12
MEMORY VERSE: “And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you“ - 1 Thessalonians 4:11

Many parents have killed their children while they are still alive because they cannot keep secrets or revelations about the destinies of their children. Can your friends keep secrets with you and other people will not know about it? It does not take some people thirty minutes before they expose the secret a friend keep with them. Our memory verse for today devotional commands us to mind our own business, be quiet, face our own duties and work with our own hands. Not to be jumping from one place to another.

Talking about other people's private affairs is a characteristic of any fallen man. People that have failed in life talks more about other people, many people’s reputations have been scarred or stained because of false information spread from person to person by those who didn’t know what they were talking about or who really had nothing to do with the matter. Even if they had “inside information,” it still wasn’t their business.

The Greek word for “study” is philotimeomai, which means ambition. Paul was actually telling his readers to be ambitious about being quiet. This word philotimeomai pictures an individual who is totally committed to obtaining or achieving a specific goal. He is determined to reach it, and enthusiastic about his pursuit. He has a strong, inward yearning to attain it which drives and motivates him — propelling him toward his goal. He is absolutely obsessed with obtaining the object of his desire and will not stop until he gets it. He simply won’t let go of his commitment to attain it.

Although we usually think of ambition in a negative sense, Paul used it here in a positive context to describe a person who is totally committed to do whatever it takes to be “quiet.” The word “quiet” is the Greek word isuchadzo, which refers to keeping to one’s own business instead of prying into other people’s affairs. Here, Paul was calling on his readers to refuse to be busybodies. Someone whose behaviour fits that description might be known for eavesdropping, snooping into other people’s business, intruding into others’ personal matters, prying into the affairs of others, and gossiping about other people. In other words, someone who behaved himself in this manner would definitely fall into the category of a busybody.

When it comes to your life goal, talk more to yourself than to other people. It is true that in the multitude of counsellors there is safety, but the people you are really talking to, are they truly your counsellors or your ‘cancellors’.

“Talking about other people's private affairs is a characteristic of any fallen man.”

Central Truth