THE GOAL OF A DAILY LIFE
A life well lived is one that is satisfying and impactful. Getting there is by having the apt goal for a day-to-day existence. Paul’s prescription for such a life is described,
‘—-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,so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.’ (1Thessalonians 4:11,12)
It begins with intent. The ambition to win each day by adhering to strong principles and submit each day’s output as a pleasing sacrifice to God is characteristic of a Christian. That intent is set in motion by asking God’s help in the morning or even the night before. The principles are manifold, beginning with a quiet life.
Camouflage is common in the animal kingdom. Many have been created with features that help them blend into their surroundings, so that they could live their life and not be noticed by hungry predators. The stick insect, shown in today’s post, is one of the longest insects, found in temperate climates and perfectly blends into the bushes or tree trunks that it inhabits.
Leading a quiet life means not drawing attention to oneself. The self is never the center of attraction in God’s scheme of things, but today man has made the self the object of attention and worship. So much so that it is hard for common man to think of others or even empathize with those around him. Leading a quiet life can mean keeping quiet or speaking wisely. It can mean listening more than speaking. It encourages a pattern of efficiently carrying out your work without making much noise about yourself.
Minding your own business is a trait that discourages undue and an unhealthy interest in the lives of others. Man’s tendency to gossip and his bloated desire to know about people and things around him needs to be countered. This will help him to indeed mind his own business better. A curiosity about the world and about others needs to be tempered by the will of God for a person. No person can or needs to know about everything else. And burdening your mind with a multitude of things will leave very little space for God and his will for you. The abundance of involvement in social media is a prime example of man failing to mind his own business.
Working hard with your hands designates being busy with what God wishes you to do. Each day needs to have goals that need to be accomplished. When situations like the current pandemic and quarantine force people to sit at home, discipline is a casualty. People end up getting into addictions, overeating, and wasting time without the routines of daily life. For the disciplined man however, this presents an opportunity to exercise, become healthier, develop new skills and de-stress in a planned manner.
The outcome of these daily principles is seen in proper behavior toward others that earns respect from those around. Paul also talks about the outcome of not being dependent on others for your needs, like he himself was despite his extensive ministry. Those who follow these principles will find prosperity in their lives and also build a lifetime of impact and satisfaction.
Image credit: https://www.boredpanda.com/animal-camouflage-39/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=organic
