Why does Paul say we should mind our own business (1 Thessalonians 4:11)?

Answer

In 1 Thessalonians 4:11–12, Paul encourages believers to “make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you.” Earlier in the letter, Paul commends the Thessalonians for their faith, hope, and love, «remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father; », (1 Thessalonians 1:3). Those three are identifiable characteristics of maturity, so it was quite a compliment that Paul would say that the Thessalonians were demonstrating faith, hope, and love. In 1 Thessalonians 1:8, Paul observes that the Thessalonians’ faith was so strong that he didn’t need to instruct them about faith, but he sent Timothy to them in order to encourage them in their faith, «and sent Timothy, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith: », (1 Thessalonians 3:2). Timothy brought back good news about their faith and their love (verse 6). In fact, they were so effective at loving one another that Paul says he doesn’t need to write anything more, «But as touching brotherly love you need not that I write unto you: for you yourselves are taught of God to love one another. », (1 Thessalonians 4:9). But it is interesting that, while Timothy brought back news of their faith and love, Paul didn’t mention their hope.

The Thessalonian believers understood some important details of biblical prophecy, «But of the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I write unto you. »,(For example, see 1 Thessalonians 5:1), but in 1 Thessalonians 4 and 5, Paul focuses his writing on encouraging them in their hope. They needed to be uplifted in their hope because they were going through challenges (as we all do at times), and Paul wanted them to be able to remain strong even in difficult times. In 1 Thessalonians 4:13, Paul explains that he didn’t want them to be uninformed about the future—specifically, what occurs when a believer passes away and when Jesus returns. Paul didn’t want them to mourn like those who have no hope. Paul understood that, to be resilient in tough times (such as when a loved one dies), it is crucial to know and trust in God’s promises.

After commending the Thessalonians for their love «But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another. », (1 Thessalonians 4:9), Paul challenges them to demonstrate love even more. In the context, Paul provides three reasons why we should attend to our own affairs. In 1 Thessalonians 4:12, he offers two reasons: “So that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.” As their witness of faithfulness was evident, it would be beneficial for people to witness the Thessalonians attending to their own responsibilities and further gaining the respect of those observing. Paul wanted them to be a positive example. Second, by attending to their own affairs and working with their hands, they would provide for themselves and not be indebted to or reliant on someone else to do that work for them. By placing this encouragement in the context of showing more love, Paul helps us understand that our attending to our own responsibilities is an act of love toward others because we are not shifting the burden for our well-being onto somebody else.

FiFinally, there is a third reason Paul tells the Thessalonians to mind their own business and work with their hands. Apparently, there were some who thought that perhaps the day of the Lord had begun, and they had stopped meeting their responsibilities. In 2 Thessalonians 3:7–11, Paul speaks against those who had done this. Part of Paul’s solution for this misconduct was to reiterate and further explain what he had communicated in his initial letter about the return of Jesus (in the rapture) and the day of the Lord (what follows after the rapture). The Thessalonians could have a strengthened hope by understanding what God was planning to do, and that would help them prioritize and use their time and resources wisely. The same principle applies to us today. By having a mature faith, love, and hope, we can make wise decisions and take care of what God has entrusted us to manage—we can mind our own business, focusing on what He has assigned us to do, and not be thrown off balance even when times are challenging.