Based on 1 Thessalonians 4:1-12 (New King James Version)
“Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God; for you know what commandments we gave you through the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God; that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified. For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness. Therefore he who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who has also given us His Holy Spirit. But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; and indeed you do so toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, that you increase more and more; that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing.”
The Word of God is not very complex because being able to understand God’s will is very simple, so simple that even a child can understand it. You don’t need a great education or university degrees. As a matter of fact, God Himself said that it is necessary for us to become like children, as it is written: “Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.’” Matthew 18:2-4. So then, not only is it necessary to become like children to enter the kingdom of heaven, but also, that if we humble ourselves like children, that we would be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. So, what is it then that makes it so difficult, because the state of things makes it seem like it is very difficult, not only by everything that can be seen that is wrong with the world, but even more so, by how wrong everything is with the things that involves Christianity?
I think we can define this issue generally with one word: foolishness. When something so simple that even a child can understand is turned into something so difficult and complex, it’s because foolishness is reigning. There is no other explanation. Let us put things in regular daily terms, so we can understand. Is there any sense in paying for something $100 when it could be easily bought for $5? Is there any sense in delaying something for 2 hours when it should only take 5 minutes? Is there any sense in hiring 4 employees for a job that 1 employee should be able to handle? If these things don’t make sense, and there is no justification for them, then what good is it to complicate the things of God, things that a child not only can understand, but even also fulfill? Do you understand the foolishness? And do you understand even the greater foolishness that if God’s things are not fulfilled as God commands that there will be no eternal life nor rewards in heaven?
In today’s passage, we read very simple instructions, that we should, for our own good, look to please God, look for sanctification, that we should abstain from sexual immorality (what has to do with having intimate relations without being married, or with people outside of the marriage), that we should treat rightly our wife or husband, that we should not harm our brother or sister in Christ, that we should not dedicate ourselves to uncleanness, that we should love each other, that we should look to lead a quiet life, to mind our own business or tend to our responsibilities, to not be lazy but rather hardworking, and finally, to conduct ourselves properly. Nothing of this is difficult to understand. In the end, it is so easy to understand that a person would almost be unprofitable or useless if they were not able to because it is simply about following instructions. For it is also written: “Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I think not. So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.’” Luke 17:9-10.
Let us explore even more the foolishness. If the Word of God says: “For the wages of sin is death…” (Romans 6:23a), and, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith,” (Galatians 6:7-10), then, how could we think that nothing bad will happen or that everything will be fine if we dedicate ourselves to sinning and to sowing in the flesh, or if we grow weary while doing good? What are we thinking? Did God make a mistake in what He said? Or, if God tells us to do certain things, that He in reality is just not going to pay attention? How can you think something different, or justify something, if we are being told very clearly what we should or should not do? God says with good reason that we should look for His truth, so we can be able to know what we should do or not do. It is something as simple as following instructions.
Let us try to make things even more simple, just as the Lord did: “Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 7:12. Now, let us use this very simple concept to put the things we read today into perspective. Sin not only hurts you, but it also offends God, because God is life (the opposite of death). Do you like being offended? Do you like the idea of you being completely in love with another person, and that this other person just uses you, like a tool, like an object that you pick up or lay down when they feel like it? Do you like being grieved, especially if you have done no wrong to the person that grieves you, or even worse, that the person that grieves you is someone you have concentrated in only doing good to them? If you have worked hard in cleaning something, would you like for someone to making it filthy again, and that they make fun of your efforts in trying to keep it clean? Do you like being hated, or mistreated, or for someone to return evil for good? Do you like for others to get into your business just to make things more chaotic, for them to get into things they neither understand nor care about? Do you like for others to live well, without even trying to work, and for them to live off of your effort and hard work? Do you like for people to steal from you, to lie to you, or to deceive you? We can see all of these things in this passage, and possibly even more, if we see them through the lens (per se) of the law and the prophets, of doing to others as you would like for others to do to you.
So then, and in summary, we were created in the image and likeness of God. And as such, we have very similar feelings. So, the law and the prophets should not only be fulfilled with your generation, but moreover, they should be fulfilled firstly with God. Treat God the way you want to be treated. Having said that, does your conduct honor God and benefit your neighbor? Lord bless! John