“Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another, for that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more, and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be lacking nothing.” 1 Thess. 4:9-12
Devotional Thought For The Day
There is an additional pressure that is put upon Christians living in America – that we be “successful,” and success is generally measured in terms of wealth – what privileges, prerogatives, and pleasures we can afford. If we internalize this expectation and allow it to be the compelling priority in our lives, much of what the apostle writes about goes out the window. Accumulation of wealth negates love [giving, generosity], and the flaunting of privilege negates a “quiet” life – part of the pleasure of “having” and “doing” is making sure others know how well off and “blessed” we are [this was formerly the purpose of vacation slide shows, and now of Facebook]. So basic choices have to made – and how blessed these early Christians were that God had taught them to love one another, that He had both instructed and enabled them to be giving and generous toward others. They were encouraged to do this more and more, to continue growing in love and generosity. There is no question that we are called to do the same – to choose love and goodness to others over amassing, accumulating, selfishness, privilege, and competing for status. And we are encouraged to be growing in love.
Such a quiet lifestyle does not mean laziness and loafing. Rather it involves working ambitiously – not for the sake of wealth and arrogance but rather to supply our own needs [so that we are self-sufficient and do not have to beg], so that we have means to “mind our own affairs,” and so that we have resources to supply the needs of those who are truly poor and desperate. In this way we “walk properly,” bearing witness to those outside of the faith to the superior ways of God, the ways of love. We are an asset to society and not a drag; we are contributing to the welfare of others rather than draining the resources of the community. This bears powerful witness to the goodness and strength of God’s love for us in Christ and provides a blueprint for a blessed and benevolent community. But such a life should be conducted quietly and privately. This is perhaps the greatest and most enduring influence of Christianity still visible in the American ethos. Let us pray God that it remains and prevails against the idolatry of wealth and privilege. But as Christianity wanes these values of love and generosity will also wane – and there is far less benevolent giving today than in the past, at least when measured as a percentage of personal income donated.
As cultural values change and fewer people – even within the church – are committed to living in God’s love and living out God’s love in the conduct of our lives, the pressure grows to “go with the flow” and to “play the game.” So we must remember that we are called to be different, to be counter-cultural, to bear witness to a Higher Power and His gracious love not only with our words but in our very being and living. This is part of following Christ and “renouncing all that we have” as disciples of Christ [Luke 14:33]. Thankfully we have God’s continuing forgiveness in Christ Jesus for our sins of weakness in this matter of love, and it is only the assurance of His continuing love and generosity that finally makes a difference in our hearts, softening us to embrace the greatness of quiet and humble love. May He grant us this blessed influence in greater measure that we too may be growing more and more in the exercise of doing and living love as His disciples.
Prayer For The Day
Dear Lord Jesus, forbid that we should fall under the influence of the great idolatry of our time, that of worshiping and serving money, wealth, selfishness, and pride. Forgive us for our failures and forays into this darkness. Remind us of Your great love, Your forgiveness and salvation, that we remain mindful of the superiority of love and goodness. Free us to grow in love before we become incorrigibly fettered in selfishness. Strengthen our faith that we trust in You alone, willing to do all that we can for the good of others. Amen.