Chapter 4
1Thess 4:11-12
And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;
That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.
There are two verses in my Bible that tell me to study. Whereas we take “Study”: To fix the mind closely upon a subject; to muse; to dwell upon in thought. To endeavor diligently.
The first is in Second Timothy 2:15:
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
The second here in First Thessalonians.
The first dealing with becoming an approved student of scripture on which to build his doctrine, and the other a approved member in the local body.
“Study to be quiet” can take on several aspects. Quietness of our mouths/voices in relation to our present company and quietness of our mind, thoughts, passions, etc… Peaceable; not turbulent; not giving offense; not exciting controversy, disorder or trouble; mild; meek; contented.
Paul tells us in Timothy it should be our goal…
1Tim 2:1-2
I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
1Tim 2:1-2
I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
In Isaiah, God was always trying to get the children of Israel to look to him and rest in his protection and not to their physical temporal securities:
Isa 26:3-4
Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:
And if we refresh our memory with the verses that Paul says to us to renew or mind, to put on the new man,
Rom 12:1-2
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
2Cor 5:17
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Eph 4:22-24
That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
Isa 26:3-4
Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:
And if we refresh our memory with the verses that Paul says to us to renew or mind, to put on the new man,
Rom 12:1-2
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
2Cor 5:17
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Eph 4:22-24
That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
Col 3:10
And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
All of this effort will lead to quietness.
Concerning the related issue with the mouth: “In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.” Prov 10:19 and “Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him. Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.” Prov 26:4-5. “A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.” Prov 15:1-2.
So much verbal fodder steals one’s peace.
The interesting thing about the rest of verse 11 and verse 12 is that the instruction from Paul is very different that what was instructed during Christ’s earthly ministry, to the twelve apostles, the instruction from the twelve in the first part of Acts. Paul is instructing the Thessalonians (and the body of Christ) to work in order to provide for our necessities and in order to help others: “work with your own hands”, “That ye may walk honestly”, “that ye may have lack of nothing”.
Contrast this with the sermon on the mount and following that what would be provided would be provided from God:
Matt 6:25, 31-34
Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? ...
Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
Or
Luke 12:32-34
Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Col 3:10
And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
All of this effort will lead to quietness.
Concerning the related issue with the mouth: “In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.” Prov 10:19 and “Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him. Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.” Prov 26:4-5. “A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.” Prov 15:1-2.
So much verbal fodder steals one’s peace.
The interesting thing about the rest of verse 11 and verse 12 is that the instruction from Paul is very different that what was instructed during Christ’s earthly ministry, to the twelve apostles, the instruction from the twelve in the first part of Acts. Paul is instructing the Thessalonians (and the body of Christ) to work in order to provide for our necessities and in order to help others: “work with your own hands”, “That ye may walk honestly”, “that ye may have lack of nothing”.
Contrast this with the sermon on the mount and following that what would be provided would be provided from God:
Matt 6:25, 31-34
Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? ...
Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
Or
Luke 12:32-34
Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Or
Acts 2:42-45
And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.
And all that believed were together, and had all things common;
And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.
Or
Acts 3:3-6
Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms.
And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.
And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.
Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.
Or
Acts 4:32, 34-37
And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. ...
Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,
And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.
And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus,
Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet.
So we have a dispensational change from the early Acts instruction with the twelve apostles to the believing remnant of Israel to Paul giving instruction to the body of Christ.
Whereas the believing “little Flock” were preparing to go through extremely hard times (tribulation, the son of perdition, the mark of the beast, not buying and selling) and they were to depend on God as their fathers did when they left Egypt under Moses (“Give us this day our DAILY bread… God will provide), and now God, through Paul’s message, is building a body of Christ that needs to provide for their physical necessities and provide the message of salvation by Grace through faith in the finished work of Christ on the cross until Christ takes us all out of here (caught up together, our gathering, blessed hope, etc.), and then he will turn back to the other program and instruction given in the early part of Acts.
(Notice how Paul in the latter part of Acts, in First and Second Corinthians and Romans is taking up a collection for the poor saints at Jerusalem, the program changed… Rom 15:26 “For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem.”)
So today, you work with your own hands, to provide for your needs, that you walk honestly (always doing the right things) that you don’t lack anything. Look at this instruction in the next letter:
2Thess 3:6-12
Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.
For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you;
Neither did we eat any man's bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you:
Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us.
For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.
For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.
Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.
Notice the “disorderly” are those that won’t work.
Remember these words in Chapter 1:
1Thess 2:9
For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God.
(Paul and crew provided for their own and was not a burden to the Thessalonians)
Anyway, I hope this helps.. maybe… in some way.
Grace and Peace James
“that ye may have lack of nothing”
Acts 2:42-45
And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.
And all that believed were together, and had all things common;
And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.
Or
Acts 3:3-6
Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms.
And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.
And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.
Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.
Or
Acts 4:32, 34-37
And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. ...
Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,
And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.
And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus,
Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet.
So we have a dispensational change from the early Acts instruction with the twelve apostles to the believing remnant of Israel to Paul giving instruction to the body of Christ.
Whereas the believing “little Flock” were preparing to go through extremely hard times (tribulation, the son of perdition, the mark of the beast, not buying and selling) and they were to depend on God as their fathers did when they left Egypt under Moses (“Give us this day our DAILY bread… God will provide), and now God, through Paul’s message, is building a body of Christ that needs to provide for their physical necessities and provide the message of salvation by Grace through faith in the finished work of Christ on the cross until Christ takes us all out of here (caught up together, our gathering, blessed hope, etc.), and then he will turn back to the other program and instruction given in the early part of Acts.
(Notice how Paul in the latter part of Acts, in First and Second Corinthians and Romans is taking up a collection for the poor saints at Jerusalem, the program changed… Rom 15:26 “For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem.”)
So today, you work with your own hands, to provide for your needs, that you walk honestly (always doing the right things) that you don’t lack anything. Look at this instruction in the next letter:
2Thess 3:6-12
Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.
For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you;
Neither did we eat any man's bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you:
Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us.
For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.
For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.
Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.
Notice the “disorderly” are those that won’t work.
Remember these words in Chapter 1:
1Thess 2:9
For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God.
(Paul and crew provided for their own and was not a burden to the Thessalonians)
Anyway, I hope this helps.. maybe… in some way.
Grace and Peace James
“that ye may have lack of nothing”
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