Can You Overwhelm People with the Good News?
Make it your goal to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands, just as we instructed you before. Then people who are not Christians will respect the way you live, and you will not need to depend on others.
1 Thessalonians 4:11
When Howard Hovde and Eddie Sears were the directors at Laity Lodge, they would often end retreats in a surprising way. They warned guests about going home and telling others of their experience at Laity Lodge. Caution was advised. They said, “Temper your passion when telling others about the incredible experience you had while on retreat at Laity Lodge.” Unbridled enthusiasm could overwhelm people. It could even scare them a bit.
This was practical advice. People would leave Laity Lodge and go back home to their friends and begin telling them of their wonderful experience. They would talk about the beauty of the place, the incredible food, and the spiritual encouragement they received. All this talk often overwhelmed their friends. Rather than being excited, some friends were jealous of the experience. Others were suspicious of the exuberance of their descriptions. So we told people to temper their passion.
Paul gives similar advice to the Thessalonians. He says, "Live a quiet life." Let the way you live and work and care for one another serve as your witness. Don't overwhelm people with the "Good News." Instead, let them see your transformation and hope as you go about your daily life and work.
QUESTIONS FOR FURTHER REFLECTION: How do you think about humility? What do you make of Paul’s encouragement to “aspire to the quiet life”? What is Paul saying about your daily life and work?
PRAYER: Father, I pray the protection of your name as Jesus prayed, “All who are mine belong to you, and you have given them to me, so they bring me glory. Now I am departing from the world; they are staying in this world, but I am coming to you. Holy Father, you have given me your name; now protect them by the power of your name so that they will be united just as we are. During my time here, I protected them by the power of the name you gave me” (John 17:10–12).
May the paradox of humility guide me as I seek the protection of your name, Almighty God. Amen.
Images sourced via Creative Commons.
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