9 Now about your love for one another we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. 10 And in fact, you do love all of God’s family throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more, 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, 12 so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.ReflectionsWritten by John CochranePaul tries to help the Thessalonians to grow to spiritual maturity. He is especially concerned with holiness and hope with which they are struggling. Promiscuity and permissiveness were common in the lives of the people of Thessalonica. Paul told the men of the Thessalonian church that they must shun the promiscuous attitudes which prevailed at that time. Another area in which they struggled was their aversion to work. They didn't understand that their Christian faith was meant to be a full time service to the Lord. The way we work is meant to be part of our holiness. Our working lives should express our love for the Lord and our neighbours. Glorifying God should be our motivation in our work. Our working life is lost to the world until it is seen as part of our holiness. There is no distinction between working with one's hands and any other form of labour, all work has equal dignity before God and should be used to please Him.Reflect and pray about ways in which your “daily life may win the respect of outsiders” (v 12).About the AuthorJohn is part of our Fairfield Early Church with his wife.