TITLE: Mind Your Own Business

 

“Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and mind your own business and to work with your own hands” 1 Thessalonians 4:11a

 

Country music legend Hank Williams wrote a song, “Mind your own Business.” In it, he sang, “Minding other people’s business seems to be high-toned, I got all I can do just mindin’ my own!” Certainly God does not intend we be totally unconcerned with our neighbor’s affairs or him. After all, the Bible says-“Bear with one another” and “Each of us should please his neighbor for his good.” Rather, Paul is saying to these Thessalonians they’re not to sponge off their neighbors, or be an added burden to him. It seems there were those who believed Christ’s coming was imminent, any day. There were those who then spent idle time at their neighbor’s house sponging off them as they waited for His return. 

 

Perhaps, a modern day example could be how certain people take advantage of its social security system or just others in general. We’re all sinners and in need of the forgiveness and faith God provides. His Spirit moves us to make it our ambition to lead a quiet life, and to tend to our own affairs leaning on God for our aid and not our neighbor or ourselves. This living kind of living our faith brings peace not only to our neighbor, but to each of us. God be praised!

 

Lord, help me be about Godly business with my neighbor, Amen.  

TITLE: Pride Comes Before a Fall

 

“For whoever exalts himself will be humbled and whoever humbles himself, will be exalted.” Matt. 23:12

 

C.S. Lewis once wrote, “There is one vice of which no man in the world is free; which everyone loathes when they see it in someone else; and of which hardly any people, except Christians, ever imagine that they’re guilty themselves and that’s pride. Pride leads to every other vice: it is the complete anti-God state of mind.”

 

Pride is what caused the devil to become the devil. It’s that fallen, dark part of our nature that no one is quick to talk about. This text also speaks of pride’s anti type-humility. Jesus, who knows our condition and every thought once said, “Learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls.” It seems pride also brings about a negative competitiveness in us. Lewis intimates, “If everyone was rich, or clever, or good looking, there’d be no pride about it. But pride comes about because we either are or think we are richer, or cleverer, or better looking than others.” Jesus not only is our example, but His Spirit brings about Godly humility in us. There is no competition or pride when it comes to being a Christian. He loves us all just the same! Our help in all things, including our attitude, is in the Lord.  

 

But as for me, I’m filled with power, with the Spirit of the Lord” Micah 3:8a

 

A man just got a pink slip from the company informing him they’re down-sizing and his

services are no longer needed. The student scans the college entrance exam before him and thinks to himself, “This looks tough!” A man is in his last week of taking cancer treatment of chemotherapy and radiation and is extremely weak. He stares long and hard at the massive radiation machine as the Nurse says, “Next!”

 

The children of Israel had become used to hearing only false prophetic words of peace. It was Micah’s task to prophesy true words of God. He began his task in the words written above. There sometimes may be things we must do that seem to go beyond the power, ability, and strength we have of ourselves. As believers, His Spirit is the source of power and strength for any and all of our life’s situations. We’re able to hear that ‘still small voice’ that comes from the same Spirit Micah proclaims to have which says, “We can do all things through Him who gives us strength.” This promise and presence of God brings us assurance, hope, and true peace. We delight also in His promise: “He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put His Spirit in our hearts.”