Dr. Paul Manuel—2020
1
Thess 4:11 Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind
your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, 12 so that
your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be
dependent on anybody.
I. Maintain
a reserved
demeanor (v. 11).
A. You
are to be unobtrusive.
B. You
are to be productive.
Application: What is most important is not displaying
what you believe on your accoutrements but demonstrating what you
believe in your actions
(Gal 6:10).
II. Maintain
a regular demeanor (v. 12).
A. You will then be admired.
B. You will then be autonomous.
Application: Whatever
you heard about heaven, the reality will be far grander and will last
far longer than you can ever imagine (1 Cor 2:9).
The Snider’s
front door was accidentally left open, and their dog ran out. After
unsuccessfully whistling and calling, Mr. Snider got in the car and went
looking for her. He drove slowly around the neighborhood for some time, calling
for her but with no luck. Finally, he stopped beside a couple out for a walk
and asked if they had seen his dog. They replied… “You mean the one following
your car?
Sometimes we do not realize the
impact personal example can have on another’s behavior. The same holds true in
evangelism.
Law #1 God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life.
God so loved the world that
he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but
have eternal life. (John
3:16)
I have come that they may have life and have it to
the full. (John
10:10)
Law #2 Man is sinful and separated from God, thus he cannot know God's plan for life.
All have sinned and fall
short of the glory of God. (Rom
3:23)
The wages of sin is death,
but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Rom 6:23)
Law #3 Jesus Christ is God’s provision for man’s sin through whom man can know God’s love and plan for his life.
God demonstrates his own love
for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Rom 5:8)
What I received I passed on
to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the
Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according
to the Scriptures. (1 Cor 15:3-4)
I am the way and the truth and the life. No one
comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6)
Law #4 Man must receive Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord by personal invitation.
To all who received him, to
those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. (John 1:12)
Believe in the Lord Jesus,
and you will be saved. (Acts
16:31)
It is by grace you have been saved, through
faith—and this not from yourselves, [faith]is the gift of God—not by works, so
that no one can boast. (Eph
2:8-9)
By learning these four principles and their accompanying verses, a
Christian has an easy-to-follow method of communicating his faith. This method
grew in popularity making the Four Spiritual Laws the most common way to share
the gospel today.[1]
While
many Christians find it helpful to have a prepared presentation of the gospel
in case an encounter offers an opportunity to share your faith, it is better to
demonstrate your commitment to God for the people you meet by the way you live.
Paul often exhorts his readers to emulate him:
• To the Corinthians Paul says:
“Follow my example, as I follow the example
of Christ” (1
Cor 11:1).
• To the Philippians Paul says:
“Join with others in
following my example…and
take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you” (Phil 3:17).
• To the Thessalonians Paul
says:
“You yourselves know
how you ought to follow [my] example” (2 Thess 3:7).
St. Francis, a 13th c. Christian missionary,
said, “Preach
the Gospel at all times, and if necessary use words.”
The primary
job of spreading the gospel falls to those God has spiritually equipped for the
task, those with the gifts of apostleship and evangelism (Manuel 2012, 2013b).
That does not mean Christians without those gifts can remain silent about their
faith. [mh\ ge÷noito.]
“May it never be!”[2] All
Christians must speak about what they believe, even those with other gifts. The
way to do this is not necessarily through verbal articulation but through
physical demonstration. As Paul writes to the Corinthian believers:
You show that you are a letter from Christ, the
result of our ministry, written not
with ink but with the Spirit of the living God,
not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. (2 Cor 3:3)
The gospel need not come through an overt
presentation in word but via the subtle illustration in deed. While the “Four
Spiritual Laws” booklet offers Christians a way to communicate the gospel, the
method it employs, confrontation evangelism, is not one many believers
find appealing or feel suited to their personality. Most Christians prefer the
more subtle approach of lifestyle evangelism, illustrating their beliefs
by their actions. The latter, however, is actually more difficult and more
demanding, as it usually requires one’s testimony to extend beyond the brief
encounter required to communicate the contents of a small tract. It relies rather
on an already established relationship that gives both message and messenger
credibility. To be sure, the “Four Spiritual Laws” may be just the right tool
for a brief encounter, but it lacks the depth of an extended conversation.
Lifestyle
evangelism is what Paul advocates in this first letter to the Thessalonians,
explaining how the believers in that church should live, and giving two ways
they can prepare others to hear the gospel, primarily ways their own demeanor can
help someone look favorably on the good news. He tells them initially to…
I. Maintain a reserved demeanor (v. 11).
1 Thess 4:11
Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to
work with your hands, just as we told you.
The
first step is to establish priorities: “Make it your ambition” (v. 11). The task of informing others should
not be an afterthought but one that has some urgency, that rises to the top of
what one does, yet not in a flamboyant way. There must be a balance in a presentation
of the good news. It also should be a task suited to Christians who are not
extroverts.
A. You are to be reserved.
“Mind your own
business” (v. 11) “No one gets into trouble minding his own business,
but if he starts minding someone else’s business, that usually causes a lot of
trouble” (Walvoord 1967:55). Paul says. Do not stand out as a busybody.[3] Paul is not saying the
Christian should be invisible, merely that he should not draw unwarranted
attention to himself. The gospel is not about the individual believer; it is
about Jesus. In fact, as John the Baptist says, “He must become greater; I must become less” (John
3:30). Nevertheless, the Christian
should also not seem aloof, unconcerned for the affairs of others. The
Christian should not withdraw from those around him but stay engaged. He must
strike a balance between being overly effusive and being unduly timorous.
B. You are to be productive.
The
Thessalonians are not “to cease manual labour [perhaps in anticipation of
Jesus’ imminent return[4]]
and by their idleness mulet the generosity of others” (Eadie 1979:143). A
Christian should be self-sufficient, making his own way in life rather than
dependent solely on the good will of others. Idleness is not an admirable
quality, in individuals or in a church, and is certainly not a way to win
respect from outsiders. While members properly exhibit a measure of
interdependence, no able-bodied member is free of responsibility to act for the
common good: “If
a man will not work, he shall not
eat” (2 Thess 3:10). “Christians must never evade their daily
responsibilities under the pretense of proclaiming or preparing for Christ’s
return” (Thomas
1978:274).
Paul himself is a “tentmaker” (Acts 18:3), so as not to be a
financial “burden” on the churches he visits, a point he makes especially to
the Thessalonians (1
Thess 2:6, 9; 2 Thess 3:8).
This is before the advent of a paid clergy, but Paul’s concern is that no one
be a drain on church resources except those who are truly destitute:[5]
Give proper
recognition to those widows who are really in need…. The widow who is really in need and left all alone…continues night
and day to pray and to ask God for help…. No widow may be put on the list of widows unless she is over sixty…. (1 Tim 5:3, 5, 9)
People
in the church are to be productive members of society.
Application: Some Christians think
they should make their faith obvious in every aspect of life, from the
religious-themed clothing they wear, to the Bible verses hanging on their
walls, to the “Honk if you love Jesus” bumper sticker on their car. Much more
important is the way they treat the people around them:
As
we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the
family of believers. (Gal 6:10)[6]
What is most important is not displaying what you believe on
your accoutrements but demonstrating what you believe in your actions,
by doing good to those around you.[7]
What is your reputation to others, and does it dispose them favorably to the
gospel?
After
admonishing the Thessalonians to maintain a reserved demeanor, Paul tells them
to…
II. Maintain a regular demeanor (v. 12).
That is, keep their normal routine, especially in their devotion to
God, which must not vary much, so others will realize their behavior is consistent
with what they believe. Again…
1 Thess 4:12 [Make
it your ambition] that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders
and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.
Although the Christian should not be overly concerned about what other people think, especially if such impressions consist in peer pressure to do what he should not do (Manuel 2007b), he should still cultivate a relationship that promotes a receptive attitude toward the gospel, or at least one not antagonistic to it. Preferably…
A. You will then be admired.
People
may not agree with your life choices, but they will probably not fault you for
making them, especially if your choices have a better outcome than their
choices. At that point they may admire you, even envy you, if only from afar:
In hell…he looked up
and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So
he called to him, “Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the
tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this
fire.” But Abraham replied… “Between us and you a great chasm has been fixed,
so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over
from there to us.” (Luke 16:23-26)
At that
point a person may wish to change his mind, but he cannot because “Man is destined to die
once, and after that to face judgment” (Heb 9:27).
B. You will then be autonomous.
Those
who choose a path apart from God lock themselves into a future of limited
options. Having rejected the only means of salvation, they consign themselves
to an eternity apart from God, an eternity that has little variation:
They will be tormented day and night for ever and
ever…. If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was
thrown into the lake of fire. (Rev 20:10 15)
In stark contrast, the redeemed face a future
wide open with possibility in God’s company:
He has…set eternity
in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what
God has done from beginning to end. (Eccl 3:11)
Unlike those who reject God, those who embrace Him have a host of
possibilities and an eternity to explore them.
In
this life, the goal as much as possible, is to be self-sufficient, “not be
dependent on anybody” (v. 12), whether a wealthy benefactor, a family member,
or the local congregation. While the typical Christian is involved in the
church, he is not to depend on the church as his sole means of support, except
for those employed by it. He should have some gainful means of employment.
Application: One popular view of
heaven has the believer playing a harp while sitting on a cloud and eating
Philadelphia cream cheese, the biblical version is quite different (Manuel
2013a), including neither a harp[8] nor cream cheese. To be
sure, in heaven, the accommodations will be most comfortable, and the food
selection will be most satisfying:
No
eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for
those who love him” (1 Cor 2:9)
Whatever you have heard about heaven, the reality will be far grander
and will last far longer than you can imagine. The most spectacular feature
is that you will see God’s “face” (Rev 22:4), which is no small thing as He told Moses, “no one
may see me and live” (Exod
33:20).
Conclusion: As a young minister, Timothy is responsible for many
things, including telling others about Jesus. That task requires he be able to
relate to others, which he can do through “Lifestyle Evangelism,” communicating
what he believes not only by the words he speaks but by the way he lives, his
personal example, a method every Christian can use.
Bibliography
Eadie,
John
1979 Commentary on the Greek Text of the Epistles
of Paul to the Thessalonians. Reprint ed. John Eadie Commentary Series
(current series). Grand Rapids: Baker Book House. Formerly London: Macmillan
and Company, 1877.
Manuel, Paul http://paulwmanuel.blogspot.com
2007a “An
Equal-Accessibility Deity.” Soteriology Excursus 3 in A Reader’s Digest Approach to Theology.
2007b “Peer
and Other Pressures.”
2012 “Who
Did Evangelism in the Early Church?” Ecclesiology Excursus 2 in A Reader’s Digest Approach to Theology.
2013a Hints of Heaven [4 Sermon Series].
2013b “The
Task of Evangelism.” Ecclesiology Excursus 1 in A Reader’s Digest Approach to Theology.
Thomas, Robert L.
1978 “1, 2 Thessalonians.” The Expositor’s Bible Commentary. Vol.
11. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House.
Walvoord, John F.
1967 The Thessalonian Epistles. Grand Rapids:
Dunham Publishing Company.
[1]There are at least two drawbacks to this method
(Manuel 2007a):
• The first drawback is that it does not tell
the whole story, for God has a terrible plan for your life if you do not
repent.
• The second drawback is that it uses only NT
passages, which gives the impression that the gospel is a NT innovation, and it
is not.
[2]Paul uses this phrase several times, especially
in Romans (3:4, 6, 31; 6:2, 15; 7:7, 13; 9:14; 11:1, 11).
[3]Paul addresses these topics again in his second
letter:
2 Thess 3:11 We hear that some among you are idle. They are not
busy; they are busybodies. 12 Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus
Christ to settle down and earn the bread they eat.
[4]Paul alludes in this letter to Jesus’ return:
1 Thess 1:10
Wait for his Son from heaven,
whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.
1 Thess 4:15
We who are still alive, who
are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have
fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud
command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and
the dead in Christ will rise first.
[5]One other group enjoys similar
favor, but a family may adopt them, thus relieving the church of
responsibility:
Jms 1:27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is
this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress.
[6]Paul uses a similar admonition in another
letter:
1 Thess 5:15 Always try to be kind to each other and to
everyone else.
[7]The sage issues a similar admonition, albeit
accompanied by a caution:
Prov 3:27 Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in
your power to act.
[8]There are musical instruments in heaven, but
believer do not necessarily play them:
Matt
24:31 He will send his angels with
a loud trumpet call.
1 Cor 15:52 The trumpet will sound, the dead will
be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.
1 Thess 4:16 The Lord himself will come down from
heaven…with the trumpet call of God.
Rev 5:8 The four living creatures and the
twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp.
Rev 8:2 I saw the seven angels who stand before
God, and to them were given seven trumpets.
Likewise, there will be food
in heaven but as part of a great feast, and believers will partake in it:
Matt
8:11 Many will come from the east
and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham,
Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.
Rev 19:9 Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!
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Relevant and civil comments are welcome. Whether there will be any response depends on whether Dr. Manuel notices them and has the time and inclination to respond or, if not, whether I feel competent to do so.
Jim Skaggs