How We Spend Our Days

The church in Thessalonica had a problem--some of its members had too much time on their hands, and they were getting into trouble.

"We hear that some among you are idle.

They are not busy; they are busybodies.

Such people we command and urge 

in the Lord Jesus Christ

to settle down . . . 

and, as for you, brothers,

never tire of doing what is right."

2 Thessalonians 3:11-13 NIV

How about us? Do we spend our time doing what is right? Or are we idle, busybodies following our own agenda all the while thinking we are doing right? And how do we know the difference? This is a thorny question. Let's take it to God, remembering he gives wisdom generously to all without finding fault.

Let's say you want to be involved in this or that activity. Do a little soul-searching.

• Do you sense the leading of the Holy Spirit, or are you lead by your own need to make things right? 
• Is love for others driving you to help, or is it anger at the injustices you see in a particular situation?
• Do you believe that God is capable of handling the problem, or do you believe that He can't do it without your assistance?
• Are you more concerned with eternal outcomes, or are you focused on the temporal?
• Do you find yourself praying about the situation, or participating in angry discussions over it?
• Are you looking for peaceful ways to bring about change, or are you fomenting trouble?

These are just some considerations when you're trying to determine whether your involvement in a given activity is led by the Spirit of God. Remember that the "wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness" (James 3:17-18).

Having determined what the will of God is, then we should go for it, expending all our energy in pursuit of his goals, never tiring of doing what is right!