1 Thessalonians 4:9-12

Now as to love of the brethren, you have no
need for anyone to write to you, for you
yourselves are taught by God to love one
another; for indeed you do practice it toward
all the brethren who are in all Macedonia.
But we urge you, brethren, to excel still more,
and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet
life and attend to your own business and work
with your hands, just as we commanded you,
so that you will behave properly toward
outsiders and not be in any need.

Now as to love of the brethren, you
have no need for anyone to write to
you, for you yourselves are taught
by God to love one another; for
indeed you do practice it toward all
the brethren who are in all
Macedonia.
But we urge you, brethren, to excel
still more, and to make it your
ambition to lead a quiet life and
attend to your own business and
work with your hands, just as we
commanded you, so that you will
behave properly toward outsiders
and not be in any need.
The topic of this section

Now as to love of the brethren, you
have no need for anyone to write to
you, for you yourselves are taught
by God to love one another; for
indeed you do practice it toward all
the brethren who are in all
Macedonia.
But we urge you, brethren, to excel
still more, and to make it your
ambition to lead a quiet life and
attend to your own business and
work with your hands, just as we
commanded you, so that you will
behave properly toward outsiders
and not be in any need.
You are doing great!

Now as to love of the brethren, you
have no need for anyone to write to
you, for you yourselves are taught
by God to love one another; for
indeed you do practice it toward all
the brethren who are in all
Macedonia.
But we urge you, brethren, to excel
still more, and to make it your
ambition to lead a quiet life and
attend to your own business and
work with your hands, just as we
commanded you, so that you will
behave properly toward outsiders
and not be in any need.
You are doing great!
… but keep working on it.

Now as to love of the brethren, you
have no need for anyone to write to
you, for you yourselves are taught
by God to love one another; for
indeed you do practice it toward all
the brethren who are in all
Macedonia.
But we urge you, brethren, to excel
still more, and to make it your
ambition to lead a quiet life and
attend to your own business and
work with your hands, just as we
commanded you, so that you will
behave properly toward outsiders
and not be in any need.
You are doing great!
… and there is one
area you need to firm
up.
… but keep working on it.

Now as to love of the brethren, you
have no need for anyone to write to
you, for you yourselves are taught
by God to love one another; for
indeed you do practice it toward all
the brethren who are in all
Macedonia.
But we urge you, brethren, to excel
still more, and to make it your
ambition to lead a quiet life and
attend to your own business and
work with your hands, just as we
commanded you, so that you will
behave properly toward outsiders
and not be in any need.
You are doing great!
… and there is one
area you need to firm
up.
… but keep working on it.
… for the sake of a
good testimony.

Now as to love of the brethren, you
have no need for anyone to write to
you, for you yourselves are taught
by God to love one another; for
indeed you do practice it toward all
the brethren who are in all
Macedonia.
But we urge you, brethren, to excel
still more, and to make it your
ambition to lead a quiet life and
attend to your own business and
work with your hands, just as we
commanded you, so that you will
behave properly toward outsiders
and not be in any need.
You recall that we talked
about this before.

Now as to love of the brethren, you
have no need for anyone to write to
you, for you yourselves are taught
by God to love one another; for
indeed you do practice it toward all
the brethren who are in all
Macedonia.
But we urge you, brethren, to excel
still more, and to make it your
ambition to lead a quiet life and
attend to your own business and
work with your hands, just as we
commanded you, so that you will
behave properly toward outsiders
and not be in any need.
But how in the world
does this ...

Now as to love of the brethren, you
have no need for anyone to write to
you, for you yourselves are taught
by God to love one another; for
indeed you do practice it toward all
the brethren who are in all
Macedonia.
But we urge you, brethren, to excel
still more, and to make it your
ambition to lead a quiet life and
attend to your own business and
work with your hands, just as we
commanded you, so that you will
behave properly toward outsiders
and not be in any need.
Q: But how in the
world does this ...
have anything to do
with this?

Love of the Brethren

Love of the Brethren
Loving the
brethren:
camraderie
& unity
My perspective

Love of the Brethren
Making a
living
Loving the
brethren:
camraderie
& unity
My perspective

Love of the Brethren
Making a
living
Loving the
brethren:
camraderie
& unity
My perspective
Paul’s perspective

So what else did Paul include in
“loving the brethren”?

Loving the brethren: some clues
Now as to love of the
brethren, you have no need
for anyone to write to you, for
you yourselves are taught by
God to love one another; for
indeed you do practice it
toward all the brethren who
are in all Macedonia.
But we urge you ...

Loving the brethren: some clues
Now as to love of the
brethren, you have no need
for anyone to write to you, for
you yourselves are taught by
God to love one another; for
indeed you do practice it
toward all the brethren who
are in all Macedonia.
But we urge you ...
A basic essential doctrine

Loving the brethren: some clues
Now as to love of the
brethren, you have no need
for anyone to write to you, for
you yourselves are taught by
God to love one another; for
indeed you do practice it
toward all the brethren who
are in all Macedonia.
But we urge you ...
A basic essential doctrine
Like a family

Loving the brethren: some clues
Now as to love of the
brethren, you have no need
for anyone to write to you, for
you yourselves are taught by
God to love one another; for
indeed you do practice it
toward all the brethren who
are in all Macedonia.
But we urge you ...
A basic essential doctrine
Like a family
Natural for Spirit-filled
believers

Loving the brethren: some clues
Now as to love of the
brethren, you have no need
for anyone to write to you, for
you yourselves are taught by
God to love one another; for
indeed you do practice it
toward all the brethren who
are in all Macedonia.
But we urge you ...
A basic essential doctrine
Like a family
Natural for Spirit-filled
believers
Visible action

Loving the brethren: some clues
Now as to love of the
brethren, you have no need
for anyone to write to you, for
you yourselves are taught by
God to love one another; for
indeed you do practice it
toward all the brethren who
are in all Macedonia.
But we urge you ...
A basic essential doctrine
Like a family
Natural for Spirit-filled
believers
Visible action
Visible in whole region

Loving the brethren: some clues
Now as to love of the
brethren, you have no need
for anyone to write to you, for
you yourselves are taught by
God to love one another; for
indeed you do practice it
toward all the brethren who
are in all Macedonia.
But we urge you ...
A basic essential doctrine
Like a family
Natural for Spirit-filled
believers
Visible action
Visible in whole region
Connected with working
for a living

Loving the brethren includes
sharing all we have with one
another: our lives, our dreams,
our troubles …and even our
material possessions.

Having all things in common

Having all things in common
• Acts 4:32-35 -- a Biblical picture of brotherly
love

Having all things in common
• Acts 4:32-35 -- a Biblical picture of brotherly
love
• Paul probably shared this vision with the
Thessalonians

Having all things in common
• Acts 4:32-35 -- a Biblical picture of brotherly
love
• Paul probably shared this vision with the
Thessalonians
– Not a governmentally imposed communism

Having all things in common
• Acts 4:32-35 -- a Biblical picture of brotherly
love
• Paul probably shared this vision with the
Thessalonians
– Not a governmentally imposed communism
– Not specific dollar amounts believers were to give

Having all things in common
• Acts 4:32-35 -- a Biblical picture of brotherly
love
• Paul probably shared this vision with the
Thessalonians
– Not a governmentally imposed communism
– Not specific dollar amounts believers were to give
– Rather an attitude of joyful generosity: “whatever
I have is yours”

Having all things in common

Having all things in common
• 2 Corinthians 8 -- another example

Having all things in common
• 2 Corinthians 8 -- another example
– vv 1-5 probably refers to the Thessalonians (and
Philippians)

Having all things in common
• 2 Corinthians 8 -- another example
– vv 1-5 probably refers to the Thessalonians (and
Philippians)
– vv 13-15 here is the principle

A Critical Balance

A Critical Balance
• In this context, being willing to work for a
living is vital. If people were to take
advantage of the Christian community’s
willingness to share, they would destroy it.
Everyone Christian benefits from the family
love of other Christians, but everyone also has
a responsibility to contribute if they can.

A Critical Balance

A Critical Balance
Generosity
Camraderie, unity, etc.
Hard work

A Critical Balance
Generosity
Camraderie, unity, etc.
Hard work
1 Thess 4:9-10

A Critical Balance
Generosity
Camraderie, unity, etc.
Hard work
1 Thess 4:9-10 1 Thess 4:11-12

A Critical Balance
Generosity
Camraderie, unity, etc.
Hard work
2 Thess 3:6-12
1 Thess 4:9-10 1 Thess 4:11-12

A Critical Balance
Generosity
Camraderie, unity, etc.
Hard work
2 Thess 3:6-122 Thess 3:13
1 Thess 4:9-10 1 Thess 4:11-12

A Critical Balance
Generosity
Camraderie, unity, etc.
Hard work
2 Thess 3:6-122 Thess 3:13
1 Thess 4:9-10 1 Thess 4:11-12
Ephesians 4:28

Other verses with similar ideas

Other verses with similar ideas
• Gal 6:6-10 (note v 6 -- this entire passage is
about using money for the kingdom)

Other verses with similar ideas
• Gal 6:6-10 (note v 6 -- this entire passage is
about using money for the kingdom)
• Titus 3:14 (“deeds” may be translated
“occupations” -- cp Eph 4:28)

Other verses with similar ideas
• Gal 6:6-10 (note v 6 -- this entire passage is
about using money for the kingdom)
• Titus 3:14 (“deeds” may be translated
“occupations” -- cp Eph 4:28)
• Heb 13:1-3

Other verses with similar ideas
• Gal 6:6-10 (note v 6 -- this entire passage is
about using money for the kingdom)
• Titus 3:14 (“deeds” may be translated
“occupations” -- cp Eph 4:28)
• Heb 13:1-3
• James 1:27 + Gal 2:10

Other verses with similar ideas
• Gal 6:6-10 (note v 6 -- this entire passage is
about using money for the kingdom)
• Titus 3:14 (“deeds” may be translated
“occupations” -- cp Eph 4:28)
• Heb 13:1-3
• James 1:27 + Gal 2:10
• James 2:14-17 + 1 John 3:17

Accepting God’s Call
• ...make it your ambition to
– lead a quiet life
– and attend to your own
business
– and work with your hands,
• just as we commanded you,
• so that you will behave
properly toward outsiders
and not be in any need.

Accepting God’s Call
• ...make it your ambition to
– lead a quiet life
– and attend to your own
business
– and work with your hands,
• just as we commanded you,
• so that you will behave
properly toward outsiders
and not be in any need.
Am I willing to be mundane?

Accepting God’s Call
• ...make it your ambition to
– lead a quiet life
– and attend to your own
business
– and work with your hands,
• just as we commanded you,
• so that you will behave
properly toward outsiders
and not be in any need.
Am I willing to be mundane?
Am I willing not to meddle?

Accepting God’s Call
• ...make it your ambition to
– lead a quiet life
– and attend to your own
business
– and work with your hands,
• just as we commanded you,
• so that you will behave
properly toward outsiders
and not be in any need.
Am I willing to be mundane?
Am I willing not to meddle?
Am I running from hard work?

Accepting God’s Call
• ...make it your ambition to
– lead a quiet life
– and attend to your own
business
– and work with your hands,
• just as we commanded you,
• so that you will behave
properly toward outsiders
and not be in any need.
Am I willing to be mundane?
Am I willing not to meddle?
Am I running from hard work?
Am I sensitive to the
suspicions of an
unbelieving world?