By Jeffery M. Leonard, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Biblical Studies, Samford University
Uncomplicated Relationships
1 Thessalonians 4:3–12
Few stories in the Bible are as riveting as the account of David’s rise to the throne. His is the quintessential “rags to riches” story. When the prophet Samuel comes to call on David’s father Jesse and asks to see his sons, David is the one Jesse doesn’t bother to fetch from the fields. When mighty Goliath mocks Israel’s armies and Israel’s God, David is the one derided for thinking he could take on the Philistine champion. When King Saul worries he might lose his throne David is the one Saul’s armies hound into the wilderness. And yet despite all of these adversities David’s star rises relentlessly. Samuel anoints him as the future king. Goliath finds him much more than a worthy adversary. Saul steadily wanes in popularity as David receives the nation’s praise. From the humblest beginnings David rises through the ranks to become Israel’s most beloved king.
But just at the moment David’s trajectory had reached its zenith, disaster would strike. One son would rape his half-sister and be killed by her brother. That vengeful brother would launch a civil war against his father and force David to flee Jerusalem in shame. One son would die just days after he was born. After having gained such heights David’s family and nearly his entire kingdom came crashing down all around him.
What could possibly have led to this terrible fall from grace? Put simply it was the moment he lingered on the balcony looking at Bathsheba rather than turning away to mind his own business. When David summoned Bathsheba to his palace and then chose to cover up the consequences of his actions through deception and finally murder, he unleashed a whirlwind of destruction in his own family. Having seen the failings of their father David’s sons were quick to follow suit. The result was a torrent of chaos and bloodshed that David and his family barely survived.
What was true in the life of David is equally true today. Few aspects of life hold the potential for such joy and such chaos as do personal relationships. They can be the life preservers that hold us up in the most difficult of times or the anchors that drag us downward threatening to drown us altogether.
Approach every relationship with absolute purity. (3–5)
The Apostle Paul recognized the importance of relationships in his first letter to the Thessalonians. In the fourth chapter of his epistle he urged the believers at Thessalonica to abstain from sexual immorality. He implored them to control their bodies “in holiness and honor” not set them loose “in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God.” Ultimately a life of sexual immorality is one that digs traps we are sure to fall into in the future.
Don’t take advantage of other people. (6–8)
The traps we set with our bodies do not affect only ourselves, however. Paul describes sexual immorality as something that wrongs and transgresses against other people. The apostle would not subscribe to the notion that our sexual transgressions are victimless crimes. On the contrary he regards the conduct of our bodies as something that can harm and victimize others even when the other person is a willing participant.
Focus on your own actions. (9–12)
Ultimately Paul calls the Thessalonians to a radically different lifestyle than one focused on self. He urges brotherly love, commending his readers for the love they have already shown to believers in the area. Along with this exhortation to brotherly love Paul adds advice that fosters simplicity in any situation: live quietly, mind your own affairs, work with your hands, walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one. Paul’s instruction contains a recognition that living as a believer among unbelievers will not always be easy. When trials come a simple life will best serve to give joy even in the midst of trouble.
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