Taking the High Road

Theology, which is literally translated as “the study of God,”  imparts the knowledge necessary for true spiritual maturity. And theology equips us to minister to others which relates to today’s passage from 1 Thess chapter 4.

1 Thess. 4:9-12

9 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.
10 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,
11 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,
12 so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.

In this passage we are learning from God to:

• Love people

• Live a quiet and peaceful life

• Lead by example

There are two things in particular that marked off the Christians of New Testament days from contemporary society: the purity of their lives which we spoke about last week and the love that they practiced so fully.

Loving people

In verse 4, Paul said there is no need to write to you about this. Why did he say that?
Because the church in Thessaloniki was being taught by “God” to love. The word taught is in the present tense which means that they were constantly learning how to love God’s way, according to His will. It is a never-ending process.

I think the reason why we sometimes struggle to love each other the way God has called us to, is because we haven’t learned how to properly love ourselves with God’s love.

The Thessalonians were being taught sound, healthy theology by the disciples. It was the Spirit who empowered the Thessalonians and gave them an understanding of what they were being taught.
The disciples’ teaching changed the way they thought and, they began to comprehend how to love people the way the Father expected them to love.

Love is angry at injustice, ungodliness, biblical compromise and anything that would bring God’s divine disapproval. God’s love cuts across all cultures and supports the truth even when it is unpopular or politically incorrect.

Paul said in verse 10, we are definitely practicing this type of love toward fellow believers in Macedonia but I want us to excel even more, which brings us to our second point.

Learn to live a quiet life 

In verse 11, Paul makes 3 points:
- making it your ambition to lead a quiet life
- minding your own business
- working with your hands

Ambition here means to earnestly aspire to something, implying a strong aspiration or drive for the goal in view. Some of the Thessalonian Christians were idle, lazy and had become dependent on the charity of others. They may have reasoned that since Jesus’ return was imminent, they stopped working in preparation for his coming.
Paul was clear that Christ will return one day, but until that time comes, don’t live carelessly. Instead, be productive citizens and lead peaceful lives, free of conflict and hostility toward others.

Next, Paul was teaching the church not to be caught up in anything that might be construed as disturbing public order but rather to mind their own business and work with their hands.
For the Christian, learning a trade and being able to work with your hands was a dignified way to live (Eph. 4:28).

Paul said, “mind your own business” which means take care of your own responsibilities.
People start getting involved in other people’s business when they are idle when they have nothing better to do. This should not be our testimony as Christians. Quietness means being content and staying focused on the task at hand.

Lead by Example

Verse 12 is talking about the importance of your testimony and everyday interactions with others.
As Christians, we not only have the responsibility to love each other but to be a faithful testimony to non-Christians. We should always take the higher road and endeavor to display qualities of honesty, integrity, conscientiousness, and honor.

Paul affirms that the peaceful, diligent lifestyle leads to an effective testimony before the loss and avoids a life of dependence on others.

How can such testimony be possible? By taking the high road!
According to the letter Peter wrote to the Corinthian church, we can take the high road when it comes to choosing to live Spirit-filled and Spirit-led lives.

I want to encourage you, no matter where the Lord has placed you or what situation you may be facing to take the high road. Before you face your day, remember this acronym ASAP - which stands for “always say a prayer.”
Always seek God first, ask Him for wisdom, for favor, for strength, and protection. Take the high road when it comes to decision making, how you will conduct yourself, how you treat others.

This is the reason we will be doing a study on theology, studying who God is, how He relates to and expresses Himself to His own creation, and the reason for why He created you and me. It is vital to know who God is, what He thinks about you, how much He loves you, and desires that you embrace His will by His power and direction.