1 Thessalonians 4:9-12 — But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another. And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more; and that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; that ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.

This is an interesting little message from Paul. I wonder if there is the slightest hint of a  warning or even criticism wrapped up in a beautiful compliment.

Let’s look at the compliment first. The idea of “brotherly love” was not really widespread in the Roman Empire. Perhaps in many ways the cultures that Paul lived and moved among were not so different than ours. The idea of Christian fellowship didn’t fit into a world of warring people’s, tribes, cultures and classes. But Paul says to the Thessalonians that he has “no need” to write to them about brotherly love. Touched by the Holy Spirit, drawn into fellowship with Christ and each other, they have learned to love each other as it were directly from God.

So what about that hint of warning or criticism? It seems likely that many of the Thessalonians were manual workers and might have been neglecting their work in the expectation of an early second coming … or might have been fussing about other people’s activities instead of  “doing their own business”

If I’m right to read a warning in what Paul writes, it seems he might have been justified, because in his second letter to the Thessalonians we find:

For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread. But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing. (2 Thessalonians 3:11-13)

It’s a problem that seems to have persisted in the church through the ages … Even today, while churches are generally warm and welcoming places, every one seems to have its share of idlers and busybodies. There always seem to be those who would rather interfere with other people’s business than get on with their own!

What are we to do about the idlers and busybodies? Nothing! We are to mind our own business or, as Paul puts it, not to be weary in well-doing. We are not to be drawn away by bad example, but to do what we ought to do, to take care of ourselves and be able to help those who need it.