But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more, and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.
Much more information is given concerning our responsibility toward fellow Christians than there are unbelievers. Perhaps, the reason for this is understanding personal obligations to the world is based on the call to preach the gospel and live worthy of it by being the proper example.
However, there are several places in Scripture that address the matter of how saints are to live alongside “outsiders.” Our text in 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 uses the phrase, “so that you may walk properly before outsiders,” suggesting that the list is the proper example to live before outsiders. They are as follows: (1) Live quietly (2) Mind your own affairs (3) Work with your own hands
Loud arrogant nosy people who claim to be Christians are a huge hindrance. Being a responsible hard-working neighbor who minds their own business will be respected by all.
Colossians 4:5-6 reads, “Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.” Once again, if we keep these words in the same context we have added to this list: (4) Make the best use of time Making the best use of our time as it pertains to unbelievers but looking for every door of opportunity to share the gospel. This is the meaning of Paul’s charge to Timothy to be “ready” to preach the gospel “in season and out of season.” Share the gospel while you can, because you may never get another opportunity (2 Tim. 4:2-3). (5) Your speech should be gracious, seasoned with salt to know how to answer each one Peter writes, “but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame” (1 Peter 3:15-16). It is important that the answer be prepared and that words be gracious. Such words are seasoned with salt which speaks to the manner of our speech. This combination of the presentation of truth plus the manner of delivery is critical. Have you ever eaten some vegetables without any seasoning? It’s hard to swallow, isn’t it? Well, even truthful words are hard to swallow when spoken with hard, condescending tones. People will spit them out and the gospel is made of no effect.
1 Corinthians 5:11-12 adds one more: (6) Do not make judgments concerning their sins Of course, no one should condemn anyone, but judgment concerning an unrepentant sin among brethren is an obligation among believers, but not outsiders, Paul writes. Since they are outside the fellowship or brotherhood, they have no union with Christ or any appreciation of spiritual blessings.
(7) Pray If outsiders are “dead” in their sin (Ephesians 2:1-ff), then the only thing that will deliver them is a resurrected life. First and foremost, we must pray, according to Colossians 4, that God opens a door for the word to declare the mystery of Christ (cf. Rom. 10:1). This has not said anything about God giving them the Holy Spirit or enabling them to respond to his grace in some better felt than told approach. He’s just praying that a door of opportunity is given to him to preach. It is the declaration of the word or the preaching of the good news that is the power to save (Romans 1:15-16). The second part of that prayer is that Paul can make it clear. The conviction and positive response of the hearer are the results of Paul making it clear so they may understand and be converted. There is no point in any of this if God saves a person without hearing the gospel. But, if the gospel is God’s power to save, then we have two imposed obligations to preach it and to pray that God opens a door for it to be heard. Both talking to God about people and talking to people about God are important actions on behalf of outsiders.
Our walk will be seen to outsiders in a certain way. In other words, we have to be wise about how they perceive us. One common accusation among outsiders is the prevalence of hypocrisy in Christians. Some of this is based on ignorance and inaccuracies regarding sin, but their perception of us requires the use of wisdom. Caution must be taken to not do anything that might hinder the gospel of Christ and give the enemy an occasion to blaspheme. Unfortunately, most of us are not living in another world with our affection set on heavenly things, but are steeped in this one (Col. 3:1-2) and give ample ammunition to hurt the cause of Christ. There is a proper walk to be seen by those that are on the outside, and it requires the wise application of God’s word.