1 Thessalonians 4:11 Meaning of Work with Your Hands

1 Thessalonians 4:11
“and 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,”

Explanation and Commentary of 1 Thessalonians 4:11

In this section of Paul’s letter to the church in Thessalonica, he urges them to live their lives in order to please God, acknowledging that they have begun to do that, but they should do so “more and more” (1 Thes 4:10). This includes living lives of sexual purity, not living like those around them who do not know God and live to fulfill their lusts and passions (1 Thes 4:5), and to learn to love each other better and better as they wait for the return of Christ.

The last part of the instructions in this section revolved around work. It appears that some in the church were lazy. Claiming that they did not need to work because Christ was returning soon, they were becoming a drain on the resources of those who worked faithfully as they waited for God. As the loafers waited around, it seems they were living in a way that was the opposite of “a quiet life.” Perhaps they were busybodies and gossips. What do people do when they have nothing else going on? It might be understandable if these people had spent their time in prayer and service, but that doesn’t seem to be the case. Paul’s instruction was that they should quiet down, stop drawing attention to themselves, and get a job. He is reminding them in this letter that this is “just as we told you.”

Breaking Down the Key Parts of 1 Thessalonians 4:11

#1 “and to make it your ambition…”
Generally, for the Christian, ambition is seen as a negative thing. “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves” (Phil 2:3). But ambition itself is neutral. Paul makes it his aim to preach the gospel where it has not yet been preached (2 Cor 5:9). This is a godly ambition, a godly aim. Here in this verse as well, the aim is godly.

#2 “…to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business…”
The picture here is of one who puts his or her head down and does good, hard work.

#3 “…and work with your hands, just as we told you,”
The reason Paul gives is that the one who does this will win the respect of outsiders and also provide for himself. These two issues were apparently problems for the Thessalonians. Their opinion that Jesus was coming back at any moment gave them an erroneous idea that they should sit around waiting on him, rather than working, which they claimed to consider to be a sign of a lack of faith. Outsiders were souring on the church as they viewed the Christians there disdainfully. Paul was eager to correct this.

Bible Study on 1 Thessalonians 4:11

Expert Overview of 1 Thessalonians

Biblical Translations of 1 Thessalonians 4:11

NIV
And 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.

NLT
Make it your goal to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands, just as we instructed you before.

ESV
And to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you.

KJV
And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you.

NKJV
That you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you.