TEXT TO REFLECT ON
But we urge you, brothers… to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs… 1 THESSALONIANS 4:10, 11
REFLECT
The Church in Thessalonica started as a gathering of Greek converts under difficult circumstances. Paul and Silas had gone to preach the Gospel in Thessalonica. The first converts were Greeks and leading women of the city. Luke 17 records that the Jews became jealous, presumably over the Apostles’ popularity, and sought to chase Paul and Silas out of the city. But the Jews were not content with driving the Apostles out of the city. They continued to pursue them in other cities. The few Christians in Thessalonica undoubtedly had a difficult time, and Paul was constantly worrying that they would return to their old ways. Surprisingly for him, the Christians remained steadfast and the church grew.
In his first letter to the Church in Thessalonica, Paul wrote about how both the disciples as well as the Christians in Thessalonica had shared sufferings. He then continued to exhort them to not return to their old ways of sexual immorality, but to aspire to good works and to love their brethren.
Paul then tells the believers to “aspire to live quiet lives”. In short, he was telling them to keep as low a profile as you possibly can. Perhaps the less noticed they were, the better for them. Unobtrusiveness was necessary for their survival and growth. The church would flourish quietly and under the radar, and in a subversive way, change the tone of society.
RELATE
We live under different circumstances. This is the era of skillful and targeted marketing. We are told to put ourselves “out there”, to make ourselves known. The more we are known, the more attention we attract, the more likely our cause or our churches will grow. We have even been told to make our presence felt to the government. Some years ago, Christians gathered for a mass prayer meeting at the National Stadium. Apart from prayer, one of the reasons for this gathering was to show how large and strong the Christian community was. The Prime Minister was invited. Christians wanted their views to be taken seriously.
But there is something to be said about “loving quietly”. Out Lord Jesus, at the Sermon of the Mount told the crowds to practice their faith and piety in secret. “When you give alms, do not let your right hand know what your left hand is doing. When you pray, hide yourself in the closet. And when you fast, look as though you are celebrating.” The work of love towards God and others is to be practiced silently and unobtrusively.
Jesus did not only directly tell his listeners to practise their piety in secret. He also described the growth of the Kingdom of God as subversive and surreptitious. He told parables to describe the Kingdom of God. “The Kingdom of God is like leaven (yeast) which a woman took and hid in three measures of wheat until the whole is leavened”. Just a pinch of yeast would ‘grow’ a large amount of flour to make bread! “The Kingdom of God is like a mustard seed, the smallest of seeds. But when it is grown, it spreads its branches and birds rest on them”. Silent, secret growth, until all of society is changed from within.
I never cease to be amazed at the work of our Youth and Children Ministries. They take on a very low profile. One barely hears of any big bangs. Yet in their quietness, these ministries keep growing and punching above their weight. What draws people to these ministries is not marketing. It is quiet love. They are not trendsetters. In fact, I wonder sometimes if they are not a little old-fashioned. But contrary to popular belief, children and youth are not drawn by the latest trends. They come when they experience genuine love, outside of the limelight.
May we always aspire to live (and love) quietly. The yeast of God’s Kingdom, which is love, will silently ‘infect’ society.
REST
When the music fades
All is stripped away
And I simply come
Longing just to bring
Something that's of worth
That will bless Your heart
I'll bring You more than a song
For a song in itself
Is not what You have required
You search much deeper within
Through the way things appear
You're looking into my heart
I'm coming back to the heart of worship
And it's all about You, it's all about You, Jesus
I'm sorry, Lord, for the thing I've made it
When it's all about You, it's all about You, Jesus
King of endless worth
No one could express
How much you deserve
Though I'm weak and poor
All I have is Yours
Every single breath
I'll bring You more than a song
For a song in itself
Is not what You have required
You search much deeper within
Through the way things appear
You're looking into my heart
I'm coming back to the heart of worship
And it's all about You, it's all about You, Jesus
I'm sorry, Lord, for the thing I've made it
When it's all about You, it's all about You, Jesus
Heart of Worship by Matt Redman
Chiu Ming Li
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