Make it your business to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to earn your own living, just as we told you before. (1 Thessalonians 4:11).
I wonder when you last head a sermon with the title ‘lead a quiet life.’ In our world where we’re often looking for the bigger apple, pushing for promotion or seeking the greater thrill it might seem a bit ordinary.
Yet when Paul wrote to the Thessalonians this is what he said to bring them down to earth. Perhaps some people thought they had missed the second coming of Christ whilst others thought it was imminent. Seeking reassurance, they were preoccupied with themes so lofty that the day to day seemed insignificant, even irrelevant and Paul grounds them once again.
This is an approach that comes across in the bible time and again. You may reach the heights of heaven in Ephesians 1-3 and in practice be dealing with daily discipleship in chapters 4-6. You can fly the flight of faith in Romans 1-10 then you’re grounded by the challenge of the church in living faith out in chapters 11-12.
The bible is remarkably down to earth as it addresses lofty spiritual themes and this is not irrelevant to recovery for the addict who will benefit greatly from common sense Christianity and keeping the ball on the deck in dealing with addiction.
One reason for highlighting this is because we often hear that the addict chases the initial thrill of their addiction as they seek the next high in greater proportions. It’s why one drug leads to another often in greater quantities and kind.
The addict is also known for living in a fantasy world, escaping into grand ideas and elaborate thinking, seeking to prove the world wrong and show “them” what they’re made of. It’s why the addict often makes big plans that go nowhere, big statements that come undone and big gestures in the pub that leave them rooked, as their imagination and ego run wild when using.
So when the addict becomes clean, thrill seeking can also become spiritual as one high is replaced with another. Of course this can help in some way in recovery but it can also be misleading. Having experienced the elation of recovery, we can assume the next big experience of God is just around the corner. Small faith that changed everything gives the impression that greater faith will change more and that becomes the goal. Having the heart opened to worship leaves us thirsty for more and the bigger the better, the louder the livelier.
Well the bible has much to say about day to day life to ground people in common sense Christianity and to keep the ball on the deck. Focussing on some basics is vital in recovery for we have to be faithful in the small things first (Luke 16:10). Some of the non-Christian recovery groups are good examples of this as they are often grounded in common sense living that can be oddly absent in the Christian world when the bible is full of it.
Here are a few examples that might give a daily focus that ground us and gives us plenty to work on before seeking the bigger apple. You might ask yourself;
- Are you greeting people well? (Matthew 28:9; Acts 18:22; Romans 16). Interestingly the bible has more to say about the way we greet people than it does about your daily devotional. Addicts were not always known for their warmth and love toward others so this is a good place to focus and gauge how you are doing in recovery. Spend time thinking about how to greet people and put it into action even when you don’t feel like it. Are you glad to see others and can you appreciate them just for who they are? How do you engage with people? Do you ask about their lives and show a genuine interest in what they’re doing or are you a bit too quick to launch in with your own experiences of recovery, how much you’re doing now and what others can have if they just do what you do. Keep the ball on the deck by deliberately doing this in church but you can take it into life in general as well. It can be a good way to make amends to society.
- Are you self-controlled? (Galatians 5:22-25; Titus 2:11) It’s with no small irony that we sometimes associate the Holy Spirit with being out of control, yet self-control is a powerful work of God’s spirit. Self-control was in short supply when the addict was using so spend some time thinking about your habits and choices as well as your responses. Are they in proportion or is something becoming an idol? What about your emotions? Addicts are a strange mix of emotions, often described as being super sensitive with an ego the size of the room. This is a general human problem of course but we should ask if our emotions are in check or do we blow up with ease? Are you slow to anger or quick off the mark? Do you pause for a beat (maybe ten or twenty!) before you respond? Are you able to think, think, think when an issue presents itself? Keep the ball on the deck by drawing on God’s spirit to exercise self-control in the day to day of life, in the choices you make and learn to respond rather than react.
- Are you paying your taxes? (Romans 13:6-7; Ephesians 4:28; 2 Thessalonians 3:8) The bible has a lot to say about paying taxes, even more than seeking the next religious experience. Leading an honest life says much about who we are as does the desire to earn a living and not be burdensome to others. In the chaos of addiction, addicts are generally not known for this. Skimming off the top is not unusual, cutting corners where the ends justify the means is acceptable and abusing the system to our benefit is surely fair game. Not in recovery. Keep the ball on the deck by focussing on honest work and paying your taxes (and your debts).
- Are you living in the day? (Matthew 6:25-34; James 1:17; 4:13-15;) As people who were generally restless, irritable and discontent with day to day living, the addict struggles with contentment and runs to their addiction for comfort. Yet the bible says much about living with the apparent and obvious normality of daily life. We have to accept that life can at times feel pretty mundane and we should get used to it. In fact life is a sermon itself. The normality of death gives perspective in the present and point us to the gospel, planning ahead should be done with caution, worrying about the future is a sin, and enjoying what’s in front of you as a gift of God is an act of faith. Keep the ball on the deck by focussing on daily life, just for today.
- Are your interests wholesome? (Genesis 1-2; 1 Timothy 4:4; Mark 13:1-4). David Powlison writes that ‘the bible shows a keen eye for history, plants and animals, current events, and construction.’ There are plenty of earthy interests to give our time and attention to, to help develop a wholesome godly life before we engage in blue sky thinking. Perhaps a hobby or sport where time seems to stand still, or a book or a podcast that engages the mind and the heart and builds you up. Keep the ball on the deck by finding an interest that is wholesome and enjoyable to engage in. According to the bible there’s no shortage out there.
After we’ve done all that attend church and expect the unexpected. A normal service, with some good worship songs, a half decent sermon to help us through the week and a faithful people who are less concerned with thrill seeking as they are with how to grow as Christians in the normality of day-to-day life.
Keep the ball on the deck and make it your business to lead a quiet life. It’s a good goal for anyone living the Christian life.