{"id":981,"date":"2024-06-27T18:35:34","date_gmt":"2024-06-27T18:35:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/?page_id=981"},"modified":"2025-12-16T16:54:38","modified_gmt":"2025-12-16T16:54:38","slug":"the-quiet-life-ambition-redefined","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/index.php\/the-quiet-life-ambition-redefined\/","title":{"rendered":"THE QUIET LIFE: AMBITION REDEFINED"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Quiet Life: Ambition Redefined<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1 Thessalonians 4:11-12<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12<\/strong>, the apostle Paul<\/strong> gets very practical about what what living for Christ out to look like in the real world. Rather than defining a faith in Jesus by a lot of religious activities \u2014 he seems to call us to live a quiet life (quite counter-cultural to the world in which we live). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Additionally, he seems to redefine our idea of success as he calls us to a new form of ambition \u2014 a godly ambition. Beginning in verse 11 he writes,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

11 <\/em><\/strong>Make it your ambition to <\/em>lead a quiet life<\/em>, to <\/em>mind your own business<\/em> and to <\/em>work with your hands,<\/em> just as we told you, <\/em>12 <\/em><\/strong>so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Paul<\/strong> gives us three specific commands<\/strong> in regard to excelling in our effort to LOVE one another. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In order to understand these verses you need to know that in Thessalonica<\/strong> there had been great excitement about the Lord\u2019s return. When he was with them, Paul<\/strong> had taught them about the imminent return of Christ.<\/em><\/strong> It means that Jesus could return today or tomorrow or next week or next year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whenever people get excited about the Lord\u2019s return there are always those who take it to extremes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Throughout history there are been those who have set dates for the Second Coming of Christ. That\u2019s bad enough, but when people begin to believe those dates, they start doing strange things like selling all their possessions and going up on a mountain to wait for Christ to return. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the 1800s a man named William Miller<\/strong> predicted that Jesus<\/strong> would return on a certain date in 1844<\/strong>. Well, thousands of people bought into this and sold all their possessions and went up on the mountains to wait for Jesus to come. When Jesus did not return, Miller was discredited and his followers disillusioned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That kind of thing has happened often throughout church history. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In answer to that kind of extremism Paul<\/strong> issues a strong call for balanced living. In fact, he actually gives three commands<\/strong> that will help us to fulfill God\u2019s call to LOVE WELL and MAKE LIFE WORK! So, with the time that remains — let me just touch on these three commands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first (very practical) thing he tells us is this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Keep Life Simple!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    This is the answer to the problem of restlessness<\/strong>. The word \u201cquiet\u201d is a word meaning \u201cSabbath rest.\u201d It speaks of the cessation of work, of the end of conflict, of peace after warfare. Be ambitious, Paul says, to live quietly. Or you might say, Be ambitious to have no ambition. We need these words because our ambition tends to be noisy, to make splash, a name, to get ahead, to rise above the crowd.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Eugene Peterson<\/strong> translate this phrase with two words: \u201cStay calm.\u201d It means to be less frantic and more settled in your life. Don\u2019t live your life with discontentment\u2014always restless for something better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    This week I ran across the following quote: \u201cYou will never be happy until you learn to enjoy what you already have.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Those are good words for us to hear. So many of us spend thousands of dollars seeking happiness when the answer is really to enjoy what God has already given us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    God made us for simplicity and quietness. We are the ones who devise duplicity, complexity, and frantic activity. But you cannot be frantic on the inside and tranquil on the outside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Let me give you another quote to chew on: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201cEvery day above ground is a winner.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    These words of the Apostle Paul<\/strong> fit our workaholic age. We live in such a hurried age, with little sense of stillness and rest. There is so motion and so little progress. We work harder to achieve less. We are a generation of hyperactive overgrown kids who stay perpetually hyped up on caffeine, sugar, TV, and raucous music. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Our motto is, \u201cGet on the bus or get out of the way.\u201d Life for most of us is a mosquito swarm of impending duties. We measure our success by how much we accomplish each day. No wonder we are restless, edgy, tense, nervous, and easily distracted. We talk but have nothing to say, we listen without hearing a word.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    If you think our generation is unique, remember that these words were written to a city church in a bustling, hurrying, rowdy, large metropolis. Paul knew exactly what he was talking about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    So what is your ambition? That\u2019s a good question for a church full of workaholics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Some of you will recognize the name Peter Marshall<\/strong>. He was a Scottish man who pastor a great church in Washington DC — and went on to one of the most famous United States Senate Chaplains. He served during the years just after World War II<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    He\u2019s remembered for his brief but powerful prayers that opened each session. Here\u2019s one of the prayers he prayed in 1947<\/strong>. He said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Lord, help us to do our very best this day and be content with today\u2019s troubles, so that we shall not borrow the troubles of tomorrow. Save us from the sin of worrying, lest stomach ulcers be the badge of our lack of faith. Amen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Paul<\/strong> says — if we\u2019re going to live well, and MAKE THIS LIFE WORK — then we need to keep life simple!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The second (very practical) thing he tells us is this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    2. Mind Your Own Business!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \n
    1. <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      This is the answer to the problem of meddling<\/strong>. We all know people like this. They are busybodies who feel called to mind their business and yours too. They believe they have a right to invade your privacy. This is a perverted view of brotherly love. One writer speaks of \u201cthe busybodies compulsive itch to set other people right.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      I know the biblical excuse people give for being a busybody. \u201cI am my brother\u2019s keeper,\u2019 they proclaim. Indeed, the Bible does teach that we should watch out for the welfare of those around us. However, it is possible to worry too much about what other people say and do. You end up telling others how to do their work and run their life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Almost no one appreciates a busybody. If they say they do, they\u2019re usually politely lying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Let me share three signs that you have crossed the line<\/strong> of genuine concern and have started meddling:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      1. You base your happiness on what others do or say.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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      1. You repeat your advice over and over hoping to convince someone of your opinion.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
          \n
        1. You judge others on whether or not they do what you say.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

          There are two things wrong with this: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

          First<\/strong>, busybodies violate the principle of individual liberty given to every Christian. Each of us will stand individually before God someday. Since you\u2019re not God, don\u2019t try to play God for someone else. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

          Second<\/strong>, busybodies spend so much time worrying about others they neglect their own lives. If you act in this way, then you end up losing all sense of values. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

          Jesus<\/strong> spoke of this kind of living in Matthew 23:24<\/strong>, where he said…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          <\/em>24 <\/em><\/strong>You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

          Matthew 23:24 (NIV)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

           You become at expert at seeing the grain of dust in your brother\u2019s eye while ignoring the log in your own eye.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          The third (very practical) thing he tells us is this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          3. Do Something Productive!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            \n
          1. <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

            This is the answer to the problem of idleness<\/strong>. If you\u2019re looking for true welfare reform, it begins right here. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Some Thessalonians<\/strong> were getting restless and not applying themselves to daily work. Not unable, but unwilling to work. The real problem was that they were concerned about Christ\u2019s return. Some had given up work in order to be ready for that time (2 Thessalonians 3:11<\/strong>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            The Gospel is very practical. It dignifies labour, hard work and thrift. The best preparation for the promised \u201cReturn of Christ\u201d is quietly, efficiently and diligently doing our daily work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            God\u2019s Word actually calls us to WORK! Work hard, work smart, and work well! And in case we somehow got the idea that is was spiritual to be lazy — God\u2019s Word calls us to action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

             It\u2019s important to understand that Paul<\/strong> isn\u2019t being metaphorical here. He literally worked with his hands as a tentmaker whenever he could so that he could support himself while he preached the gospel. Even though he was highly educated, he didn\u2019t mind hard work in the least and he didn\u2019t find manual labor embarrassing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            It\u2019s historically true that the upper classes of Rome<\/strong> and Greece<\/strong> despised manual labor. That\u2019s why they owned so many slaves. They hated to work with their hands. But Christianity brought in a new ethic based on personal responsibility and hard work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Remember, Jesus<\/strong> was a carpenter!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Work is a blessing, not a curse. The Christian ought never to be a parasite. Most of our life is spent working to earn our bread. If we cannot be holy at our work, it is useless to attempt being holy elsewhere. Someone has said, \u201cIt is a terrible thing for religious people to have nothing to do but be religious.\u201d And again, \u201cThose who get up in the morning with nothing to do but be religious are generally a great nuisance.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

            It is the man who gets up the morning and goes to his job and works all day in the marketplace, it is the woman who pursues her daily tasks at home and on the job with cheerfulness, these are the ones who make an impact for Christ in the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            How we work is as crucial as how we pray. <\/strong>There is no greater testimony than the Christian mechanic at his bench, the Christian teacher in the classroom, the Christian secretary at the desk, the Christian nurse at the hospital, or the Christian accountant keeping the books.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            This is true Christianity! <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            This is where it all begins! Going to church means little if you are a lazy goldbrick on the job. Our problem is that we don\u2019t see our daily work as a way worship God. But it is. What you do on Monday is just as sacred in the eyes of the Lord as what you do in church on Sunday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            \u201cA dairymaid can milk cows to the glory of God,\u201d<\/em> said Martin Luther<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            If you want to make an impact on the world, this is where you need to begin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            CLOSING PRAYER<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

            The Quiet Life: Ambition Redefined 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 In 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12, the apostle Paul gets very practical about what what living for Christ out …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-981","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/981","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=981"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/981\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2713,"href":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/981\/revisions\/2713"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=981"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}