QUIET
“...that we may lead a
quiet and peaceable life
in all godliness and honestly.” I Tim 2:2
I don’t know about
you, but I genuinely hate turmoil and tension.
I don’t mind hard work, but I like to live peacefully and
productively. Sometimes that is hard to
accomplish if the outside world is churning and interfering. The “quiet” life
Paul is exhorting us to here in First Timothy is one of inner tranquillity that
can be seen in how we live our lives.
Life may not be quiet
or peaceful, but we can be. Others may
not be godly and honest, but we can be.
And as Prov. 14:14 says, “A good man is satisfied from himself.” Or, satisfied he has done right and is right. Quietness of life and heart comes from the
knowledge that you have done rightly.
Paul’s admonition
comes with instruction to pray for government and leaders so that their
decisions will make it possible for life to be peaceful. That seems to be in small quantity today with
wars, lagging morals and financial uncertainty.
But, nevertheless, we should pray for our leadership. However, inner tranquillity can be ours
regardless of the outer circumstances.
As we tend our flock and work at our own business we can end each day at
peace satisfied that we have given each day our best and then give the rest to
the Lord.
Are you living
rightly? Honestly? Godly?
Do you remember your government in prayer?
QUIET
“...that with quietness
they work, and eat their own bread.” II
Thess 3:12
This
definition denotes “keeping one’s seat”.
Staying in your place, taking care of your own business without
disturbance to others.
Eccles
4:6 “Better is an handful with quietness,
than both hands full with travail and vexation of spirit.”
How
troubled we can become as we try to run the rat race. We work so hard to hold on to what we have
and to gain what we think we need that there is no quietness in our hearts or
in our homes. This verse advocates just the opposite. Be content.
Stop striving. Settle back and do
life at a different pace.
I
read a book called, Sabbath, by Wayne Muller that put it this way, “…men and women, having worked hard and long
in field and garden and factory and kitchen to obtain food, clothing, and
shelter, would realize they had just about all they really needed. They would realize that they could now rest
together, happy and satisfied, with their good and peaceful lives.” What a wonderful thing! I remember a life like this with my
great-grandparents. At the end of the
day they would rest satisfied that they had done their work and were rewarded
with a good meal and a comfortable home.
However,
Muller goes on to explain that the economists at the turn of the century did
not like this. Satisfied and peaceful people do not produce economic
expansion. So, investors, marketing
experts, advertisers and business leaders fuelled the drive for increased
consumption. They gave birth to the
advertising industry which motivated people to spend money on things they did
not need and encouraged them to fulfil their desires without regulation or
limitation saying that everyone will be benefited by increased output and
everyone will get more and more of what they want. Thus, the new gospel of consumption and
acquisition was born. (paraphrase)
I
think we have been duped! A happy life,
a quiet life, does not come by consumption!
Have you been fooled by the world of advertising? Have you ever thought about doing with less
in life? Less of the world’s goods? Less of the perceived necessities of
life? Take stock! What really makes your life better?
QUIET
But
whoso harkeneth unto me shall be quiet from fear of evil.”
Proverbs 1:33
Here
the word “quiet” means to be at ease and peaceful. Our peace and quietness are directly related
to our obedience and faith in God and his Word as we harken unto Him. Budziszewski wrote in his book, How to
Stay Christian in College, “…we were designed for harmony with Him (God).
Because our minds no longer obey Him, our desires and emotions no longer obey
our minds.” And this creates the fear of
evil, or disquietness in our lives.
The
writer of Proverbs had just warned his son of the pitfalls and dangers of
living a riotous life. A life out of
control, unsettled and volatile, will not result in peace and safety. So, too, if we live our life without control
and without self-discipline, we will not experience peace and safety. We will always be on the edge peering over to
anticipated doom; how much better to settle back and enjoy the ride resting in
the promises of God’s Word?
The
Bible is full of positive examples. King David was able to endure the hardships
of life because his heart was fixed and settled upon the Lord. Though the world around him rocked and
reeled, David encouraged himself in the Lord and knew a quality of peace and
quietness that astounded those around him.
Jesus, too, knew that same quietness as the boat on Galilee approached
certain doom. He slept and enjoyed the
ride!
We
are called to peace both in lifestyle and spirit. It is a beautiful thing to see a life so
lived. It is a joy to the one so settled
and a source of strength and encouragement to those around them who struggle.
How
quiet is your spirit? How secure are you
from the fear of evil? Are you able to
“keep your seat” when the boat of life rocks?
Are you listening and obeying the Lord?
QUIET
“...the ornament of a meek
and quiet spirit,
which is in the sight of God
is of great price.” I Peter 3:4
This
verse always captures my imagination. As
you read on in I Peter 3, the Bible refers to Sarah as our example. Sarah, who used and abused Hagar? Sarah, who laughed at God’s plan? Meek and quiet? So the definition is not mousy and without a voice!
Further
exploration reveals the core meaning of meek as: not forward in spirit, a
soothing disposition. And quiet to mean:
undisturbed, peaceful, “tranquillity arising from within; causing no
disturbance to others”. (Vine)
The
picture then is one of strength of character.
Both words can be used to describe our Lord Jesus. Tranquillity inwardly, resulting in a quiet,
gentle spirit, and tranquillity outwardly resulting in receptiveness and
control.
One
writer defined meekness as the opposite of anger and quietness as the opposite
of fearfulness. This definition might be
easier to apply to Sarah. Despite her
unusual circumstances she did not exhibit anger or fearfulness. She was confident and at peace in her
heart. This had to come from a deep
faith and belief in the providence of God in her life. She counted Him faithful!
So
many people live from a core of anger or fear.
It is good to take time and ask ourselves if we are one of those
people. If anger is your core you will
find yourself easily provoked, impatient, and resentful of others. If fear is your core, you will find yourself
doubting your decisions, worrying about the future, and afraid of or resistant
to change. Neither of these core
attitudes will lead to a quiet life.
How
quiet is your spirit? How meek is your
disposition? Do you react in anger and
fear to life situations? Which ornament
-quietness or noise - is around your person?
QUIET
“Surely I have behaved and
quieted myself, as a child that is weaned of his other: my soul is even as a
weaned child.” Psalm 131:2
To
better understand this phrase, “quieted myself”, we would be best to consider
the first verse of Psalm 131. “…my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes
lofty: neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for
me.” The Psalmist is speaking of his
behaviour. He is a gentleman. He is a humble servant of the Lord who knows
his place. Following on, Barnes says
that the word “behaved” means to be level or even. The word, “quieted”, means exactly that - to
be still, silent, to cease, stand still or rest, to tarry or wait.
Dake
says, “There is no pride in my heart and no lofty look in my eyes. I do not desire what belongs to others or
look down with contempt on those below me.
I have not sought to meddle in high matters above me, or associate with
those of higher rank. I have sought only
to be humble, simple, and child-like as is befitting my station in life. I have not complained when chastened by
others over me, or when driven away from home and comforts. I recognize my place under others as a
subject of training and discipline should I get out of line. As a weaned child no longer cries, frets, and
longs to be nursed, but is content because it is with its mother, so my soul is
weaned from discontentment and is waiting and hoping in God.”
I
don’t think there are many other things more annoying than a screaming child in
the store. He wants something he isn’t
getting and everyone must hear about it.
It is so embarrassing for the mother and upsetting for everyone
around. So it is with a Christian who
has not learned how to behave himself and quiet himself in disappointment or
difficulty. Learning our place with
humility, appropriate behaviour, and how to quiet ourselves is a great skill
and a measure of our godliness and maturity.
Do
you throw temper-tantrums when things don’t go your way? Are you a gentle person or a brawler? A humble servant or a demanding child? Are you quietly content or frustrated as you
struggle to get your way? Can you quiet
yourself or do you have to be chastened and reminded of your place?
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