A Quiet Life
Now about your love for one another we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. And in fact, you do love all of God's family throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more, and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody. 1 Thessalonians 4:9-12
Insight
Commencement season might look a little different this year, but the speeches, whether done virtually or in person, will remain much the same. Politicians, titans of industry, or celebrities will take the stage to inspire and motivate. As the graduating students head out to the "real" world, they will hear similar messages: tips to success, setting high expectations, persistence, taking responsibility, setting goals, determination.
Out of the thousands of speeches, it's almost a guarantee that the Apostle Paul's urging to "make it your ambition to lead a quiet life" won’t make the cut. After all, it goes against the grain of everything our overhyped culture preaches.
The message we hear over and over again is to cultivate our brand, crave the spotlight, and build our platform. The louder and flasher we are, the better—our worth dictated by the number of likes, views, and engagement we receive.
We share every detail of our days for the world to see, even our good deeds. The age-old question used to be "if a tree falls in the forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound? Now, it's "if we didn't post our every thought, emotion, activity, or opinion online, did it even count?"
We run at a frantic pace to keep up with everyone else. Being overworked and stretched too thin has become a badge of honor. We push back against slowing down. We think a life of influence resides in our hustle and positioning ourselves to the front of the line.
Paul paints a different picture. Yes, he tells us to be ambitious, but not in the way one would think. Instead of making much of ourselves, we should spend our days making much of God. Lasting impact comes from living a quiet life centered on humility and integrity.
We don't need to depend on the applause of others. Our security comes from knowing that the One who matters has already said we're approved. With our identity secured, we can commence with using everything we have and everything we are to sprinkle a bit of His grace and love over everything we touch.
Reflection
How can you be ambitious while leading a quiet life?
What would it look like to spend your days making this your goal?
Prayer
God, may I slow down and consider the legacy I leave behind and the story I'm telling the world through the way I live my life. I want what drives me and gets me out of bed in the morning to be learning more about Your love and then sharing and expressing that love to those around me. In Your name, Jesus. Amen.
