This world is a noisy place. It is shouting to us all the time. The news shouts at us to dwell on the bad and ugly, and then worry about it since there’s nothing we can do about it. Hollywood shouts at us to have sex with whomever and whenever you want to and live the way that seems right for you. Advertisements shouts, “Buy me! Your life won’t be complete without this or that but hurry, there are only limited supplies and they go fast because everyone wants it!” It’s a mad, loud, and crazy world and it is not our own.
Then
the Word who was made flesh comes along and tells us to “study to be quiet” (1
Thessalonians 4:11). He changed
everything! Just as we have to learn to be content, we must learn to be quiet,
especially we women since most of us love to talk and we are the ones given the
admonition to have a “gentle and quiet” spirit. There are
even Proverbs about a wife quarreling since words are the way we use to try to
get our way and if we don’t, we quarrel until we do. If you don’t quarrel with
your husband, your words will be much fewer. Men don’t like quarreling women
since it takes away peace and most of them love peace.
So
how do we learn to be quiet? For one thing, shut off anything that takes away
your peace. If you are one to listen to the news and then fret and worry about
it, stop listening to it. I have listened to hardly any news for months and my
life is better. Instead of worrying, pray for our leaders as the Bible
commands. Stop watching and supporting movies with immorality in them. If all
Christians stopped watching them, it would make a huge impact. Limit television
viewing. Tape your favorite shows and speed through the commercials like I do
so I never have to see an advertisement. Stay out of malls since they shout at
you too.
We
are told to be quick to listen and slow to speak. Practice being a better
listener. When people talk, listen to what they are saying and actually listen
to them instead of trying to figure out what you are going to say next. When
you want to argue with your husband or someone offends you and you want to
fight back, bite your tongue and say nothing instead. See that none render evil for
evil unto any man; but follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to
all men (1 Thessalonians 5:15).
Stay
home if you are a mother with children.
The rest of the verse states, “and to do your own business and to work
with your own hands.” Be busy with your hands within your home. When
you see something that needs to be done, do it right then if you can. As soon
as your children eat, clean up after them. After every meal, clean up and put
away. Imagine how clean and tidy your home would be if your hands stayed busier
than your mouth! (This includes writing on Facebook and twitter.) Make sure your
business at home is what you focus your time and energy upon.
Your
children will take a lot of your time since there is a lot that goes into
raising, training, and disciplining children, especially when they are young.
Teach your children to be quiet when they get older. Your modeling and using
words of wisdom with them will have the greatest influence upon their lives. Do
they hear you speaking words that are encouraging and uplifting? If we cut out
all of the negative and critical words from coming out of your mouths, you
would most likely become quieter. Never speak against your pastor on the way
home from church, unless he has spoken something that was not true. Esteem
them very highly in love for their work’s sake (! Thessalonians 5:13). The
more they hear you be optimistic and thinking the best of others, the more they
will grow up to be the same. Let your words be wholesome and good words and in
this way, you will learn to be quiet.
Rejoice
evermore. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks: for this is the will
of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Prove all things; hold fast that which
is good.
1
Thessalonians 5:16-18, 21
