1 Thessalonians 4:11

An Understandable Version (2005 edition)

[We also urge you to] make it your aim to live a quiet life, and to attend to your own business matters, and to work with your hands, as we urged you. [Note: Possibly this exhortation was directed toward the tendency of some people there to neglect ordinary responsibilities in view of an imminent return of Christ].

Cross References

Mark 13:34

It is like a man who left his house on a trip to another country. [Before leaving] he put his servants in charge of his affairs, giving each one a [particular] job to do, then he ordered the gatekeeper to stay alert [i.e., while he was gone].

Acts 18:3

and, because they followed the same trade of tent making, he stayed with them and went to work [for them].

Acts 20:35

I have demonstrated before you a [good] example in all [these] things, so that you [too] will work hard to help those who are [physically] weak. [Also] remember the words of the Lord Jesus who Himself said, ‘It is a greater blessing [for you] to give [to people's needs] than to receive [help yourselves].’”

Romans 12:11

Be enthusiastic instead of lazy. Be fervent in your spirit [Note: Some translators take “spirit” here to refer to the “Holy Spirit”], [as you] serve the Lord.

Romans 15:20

Now it has been my ambition to preach the good news at places where Christ’s name has never been heard, so that I would not be building on someone else’s foundation.

1 Corinthians 4:12

we work hard with our hands. [Though] we are cursed, we [ask God’s] blessing [on people]; [though] we are persecuted, we persevere;

2 Corinthians 5:9

So, we are also eager to please God very much, whether we are at home [in our body] or away from it.

Ephesians 4:28

The person who has stolen must stop doing it; instead, he should work hard, doing something worthwhile with his own hands, so that he can have [money] to share with the person who needs it.

1 Timothy 2:2

[Offer them] for kings and for all people in prominent [governmental] positions, so that we can live a peaceful and quiet life in all reverence [toward God] and respectability [toward people].

1 Timothy 5:13

And on top of that, they learn to be idle, going around from house to house; and not only idle, but also gossips and busybodies, talking about things they should not be.

Titus 3:14

Our people [i.e., the Christians there on Crete] also should learn to practice good deeds for meeting pressing needs, so that they can be productive [in the Lord’s work].

1 Peter 3:4

But [the kind of adornment you should display is] that of the inner person, with its enduring qualities of a meek and calm spirit, which are extremely valuable in God’s eyes.

1 Peter 4:15

[However], you should not have to suffer for murdering, stealing, doing evil or interfering in the affairs of others.