March 24, 2026

Business by the Book

1 Thessalonians 4:11 And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;

America is quickly becoming overrun by “arm chair quarterbacks.”  You know the type, those who accomplish little but seem to know what everyone else ought to do at any given time. Today’s verse admonishes to …do your own business… Individuals that are busy doing their own business seldom have time to meddle in the business of others. However every office, every church, every family, every school, and every civic organization seems to have at least one person who tries to mind everyone else’s business.

There are at least three reasons to …do your own business…  One is the satisfaction that comes from a hard day’s work. There is just something special about accomplishment that satisfies the soul. Self-respect is powerful. Doing your own business and leaving others alone helps to maintain one’s self-respect.

The second reason to … do your own business… is that it pleases your leaders. Every person has a leader, one who is appointed over the business that a person is to accomplish. This may be a manager, owner of a business, church leader, spouse, parent, or in some cases the Lord Himself. When people are occupied with their own business, stay busy, and finish the job their leaders are pleased. Pleased leaders have a way of steering benefits toward those they are pleased with. I’ve often said, “I’ve only ever had just one job; that is to make my boss look good.”  By being attentive to my own business my boss is pleased which in turn benefits me.

The third reason to …do your own business… is that it is healthy. Mental, physical, and spiritual health is obtained, maintained, and improved by staying busy. Interfering in the business of others, or not performing your own business, will bring nothing but headaches, misunderstandings, animosity, misgivings, turmoil, and stress. These are robbers of health.

To enjoy job satisfaction, please your leaders, and maximize your health, …do your own business…  For those who desire to become overly concerned with the business of others consider Proverbs 26:17. He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears. There is no way to let go without being bit. Successes of all types come to those who simply stay busy with their own work and allow others to do the same.

Dr. William Howe