STUDY TO BE QUIET

by Tammy Phillips
July 17, 2021

“And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;” (1 Thessalonians 4:11 KJV)

In general, I am a relatively quiet person, but not always. Various times, my mouth has unlocked and led me through the gates of trouble, when silence would have kept the portals closed. Did Paul overhear one of those “various times” that inspired him to direct all the Thessalonians, and us, to “study to be quiet?” Did he hear some Thessalonians talking about some Philippians? Did he eavesdrop on Timothy and Silas talking about Barnabas and John Mark?

When I think of studying, I think of meditating, setting my mind or thoughts upon something specific and learning about it. When Paul used the words, study to be quiet, he was implying much more. By the words he chose, he was really saying:

Be eager to hold your peace.
Strive to be at rest.
Aspire to keep still.
Be ambitious to stay settled.
Aim to keep your seat.
Do whatever it takes to remain undisturbed
Make it a goal to be steadfast and immovable

Paul implied more than studying in present day terminology. He was in essence telling us to compete, to not get stirred up, to be quiet and to let nothing move us. Now, you know, that is easier said than done.

Paul continued by saying, “do your own business,” which literally means, mind your own business.

Thank you, Paul, for your encouraging and inspired words: Be quiet. Don’t get upset and “you do you.”

I enCOURAGE you not to shoot the messenger. I do not know why the Lord wanted me to share this verse, nor encourage YOU in this way. Let me guess! It’s really a lesson for ME and not the whole class. You do not have a problem being quiet and minding your own business. I just got to share it with y’all because the Lord did not want to call me out. Did the Holy Spirit just want to send me a little text message to remind me once again to watch MY mouth, be quiet, not get upset and mind my own business? Probably! Thanks for reading MY text message to the end since I mistakenly sent it to you.