What are we known for? If someone were to describe our personality, what would he say? There is one character quality by which it should be possible to identify every follower of Jesus. He said, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:35) The kind of love Jesus was talking about is the kind of love which God shows to us. It is an unselfish and unconditional love which is given regardless of the behavior of the one who is loved, or whether it is reciprocated. It is the result of a decision to love rather than feelings of affection. Though God hates sin, his love caused Him to send Jesus to the cross in order to redeem us from sin. It is this same kind of love which causes the followers of Christ to show compassion to those outside the faith and to even bless their persecutors.
But there is also another kind of love which the followers of Christ should have. It is the kind of love which the members of a family have for one another. It is affection based on relationship. In his first inspired letter to the followers of Christ at Thessalonica, chapter 4, verses 9 through 12, the Apostle Paul writes, “But concerning brotherly love, you have no need that one write to you. For you yourselves are taught by God to love one another, for indeed you do it toward all the brothers who are in all Macedonia. But we exhort you, brothers, that you abound more and more; and that you make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, even as we instructed you; that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and may have need of nothing.”
Paul states that he has no reason to write about brotherly love. The reason he gives is that the followers of Christ have already been taught by God to love. Once someone has experienced God’s love, it is natural that he should reflect that love to others. There is another element to this, however. When someone becomes a follower of Christ, he becomes part of God’s household or family. The relationship between God and those who submit to Christ is so close that God calls them His children. If a follower of Christ is God’s child, then it is also true that he is a bother to the other followers of Christ. It is natural for members of the same family to love each other. In expressing this truth the Apostle John writes, “Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God. Whoever loves the Father also loves the child who is born of him.” (1 John 5:1) This serves as an important test of the condition of our relationship with God. John writes, “If a man says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who doesn’t love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?” (1 John 4:20)
The followers of Christ at Thessalonica passed this test. They not only loved each other as brothers within their local congregation, Paul writes that they loved the brothers throughout the province of Macedonia. Even though they loved, however, there is always room for improvement. No one can ever love too much. Paul urges the people to whom he is writing to increase in their love. How can this be done? Quite simply, by doing it. We grow stronger in those things we practice. The Apostle Peter writes, “…adding on your part all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence; and in moral excellence, knowledge; and in knowledge, self-control; and in self-control patience; and in patience godliness; and in godliness brotherly affection; and in brotherly affection, love. For if these things are yours and abound, they make you to be not idle nor unfruitful to the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is blind, seeing only what is near, having forgotten the cleansing from his old sins.” (2 Peter 1:5-9)
How does love express itself? Love will always express itself in the way we live. Paul writes that the followers of Christ should attempt to “lead a quiet life.” In prophesying about the coming of Christ, God said through Isaiah, “Behold, my servant, whom I uphold; my chosen, in whom my soul delights— I have put my Spirit on him. He will bring justice to the nations. He will not shout, nor raise his voice, nor cause it to be heard in the street.” (Isaiah 42:1-2) If we claim to follow Christ, should we not emulate His example of refusing to get involved in political protest and social unrest?
Another way Paul says we express love is how we conduct ourselves in regard to our employment or business. One way to do this is to mind our own business. Not only should we do something worthwhile in order to earn a living, but we should refrain from poking our noses into the affairs of other people. There are also many people who think that working with their hands is beneath them. But this kind of attitude has no place in Christianity. All work, if it is done for God’s glory is acceptable to Him. There is no shame whatever in manual labor. In another place Paul writes, “And whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord, and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.” (Colossians 3:23-24)
Living like this will have two results. The first has to do with how those outside of Christ view His followers. One of the quickest ways to earn the disrespect of outsiders is to be careless and slack about work. If the follower of Christ cannot be depended upon to fulfill a contract or to do good work then it reflects badly upon the Christ whom he says is his Lord. In contrast, if Christians are honorable, dependable and reflect a Christ-like attitude in their business dealings then they will gain a good reputation and the respect of those outside the faith.
The second result of listening to Paul’s instructions about work is that it will provide the necessities of life. The followers of Christ are a family. They are supposed to share with each other take care of one another’s needs. There are some who might be tempted to take advantage of this and not work while expecting others to supply their material needs. But the true follower of Christ should never take advantage of someone else. Each person who claims to be in Christ should work so that he does not have to depend on the generosity of others.