Many of us are familiar with the concept, or have heard the idea of living a quiet life. But what does that mean exactly? The biblical reference for this comes from 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 and is the basis for most Christians concept of living this way:
“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.“
The goal here seems to be to not get caught up in the affairs of the world or of other people, but rather to focus on yourself – being respectable, independent, and hard working, or at least not idle. This echos Jesus’ words somewhat when he calls us to remove the plank from our own eye before trying to remove the speck in our brother’s eye (Matt. 7:3-5). It’s easy to look at others and get caught up in all that is wrong with the world, but God’s word calls us to look at our own lives and submit them to God.
A Noisy World
In today’s world there are so many ways we get caught up in things that aren’t our business. We consume the news, social media (or we post to social media, hoping others will affirm us), we are constantly connected by technology to other people, often sharing details as if the person were there, simply because it is so easy to do so [text your friend a random thing that someone in the other room just said about them]. And all of this leave us with a very noisy life – full of inputs (and often outputs) that never rest. This endless stream of inputs about other people’s lives, which we sit back and judge, admire, or envy, is the antithesis of how Paul was telling the Thessalonians to live.
Humility – The Key To A Quiet Life
So how can we live a quiet life in light of all of the interruptions? Simply stated we must be humbled. We think about ourselves far too often – our desires, wants, feelings – and we cater to them (our God becomes our belly – Philippians 3:19). This is what feeds endless consumption of the things that prevent us from living quietly. We think we are so important and we aren’t. We are nothing but a small clod of dust that nobody will remember a few generations from now. Apart from Jesus and His love, we don’t matter at all.
How God Has Quieted Me – Pain
For me, the process of being humbled has come through pain. God has allowed me to have a disabling disease (Crohn’s disease) that affects me every day. Each morning and each evening I hurt. I also frequently am humiliated by having to use the bathroom when there isn’t one available and I don’t make it in time. For Easter church service this year, I was dressed my best, in the lobby of the church building when suddenly I had to use the bathroom and didn’t make it in time. I got to the bathroom and attempted to clean myself up and ultimately just had to sneak out the door and go home because I was such a mess. It is a memory burned in my brain of my own weakness, inability and complete and utter lack of any reason to carry pride. Although I don’t like pain, it has been a great teacher. It’s hard to think too highly of yourself when you mess your pants in public enough times. It’s hard to think you are going to accomplish grand plans and that you are a big deal when you are sitting on the toilet crying out in pain. This is not the story I would have chosen for myself and I don’t fully understand it, but I am choosing to see what is good about it – it humbles and quiets me to a place where I can finally stop being so prideful and arrogant (sins God despises). Praise God for this.
The King's Call 