Three Things You Can Do to Rise Above Unnecessary Drama in Your Everyday Life

Many a person enjoys watching a good drama-type show on television. But, did you know the Bible is stocked full of dramatic God encounters? These are the kinds of drama that are good, wholesome, and healthy. But what if you weren’t just being a spectator viewing or reading about the drama but you were embroiled in it yourself? What if you were the lead character? On the night of November 16, 1930, Mrs. Henrietta Garrett, a lonely 81-year-old widow, was the main character of what turned out to be a negative drama episode. She died in her home in Philadelphia and, unwillingly, started the most fantastic case of inheritance litigation in history. She had failed to leave a will, or no will was found, to her $17,000,000 estate; a mystery left unsolved. She had expertly handled her financial affairs since the death of her husband in 1895 and, therefore, she must have realized that, without a will, her fortune would become involved in many legal battles. Although Mrs. Garret had, at the time of her death, only one known relative, a second cousin, and less than a dozen friends attempts to prove a relationship to her and to claim a part or all her estate have since been made by more than 26,000 persons from 47 states and 29 foreign countries, represented by more than 3,000 lawyers. I’m talking drama here. In their frantic efforts, these alleged relatives have committed perjury, faked family records, changed their names, altered data in church Bibles, and concocted absurd tales of illegitimacy. As a result, twelve were fined, ten received jail sentences, two committed suicide and three were murdered. The estate has, in the meantime, increased to $30,000,000 and is not expected to be settled for some time.¹ Drama: How can we embrace the positive and avoid the negative? That’s what this podcast is about today. That’s why we are giving you Three Things You Can Do to Rise Above Unnecessary Drama in Your Everyday Life all in this week’s Light on Life.

Now, Father God as we jump into your Word today grant unto us all a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of you. Help us to know you better. Help us to know your ways. We receive this and thank you for it in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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You can view a basic transcript of this podcast at the bottom of this section.

Accept the Challenge

Each week’s podcast contains a call to action. The Word of God will not produce in your life unless you put it into operation.
This week’s call is:

Blessed quietness, holy quietness brings great assurance to your soul. That’s what the songwriter wrote. Strive to see the value of the no negative drama life.

Join the Conversation

Testimony is vital to a believer’s life. We overcome by it (Rev. 12:11). Each week’s podcast also contains a question designed to encourage testimony.
This week’s question is:

Question: What steps have you taken to side-step negative drama in your everyday life?

Episode Resources:

We are currently teaching in the book of First Thessalonians. You can click on the links below to listen to some of these podcasts.

About Emery

Emery committed his life to the Lord Jesus Christ over 45 years ago and has served as both a full-time pastor and an itinerant minister. He and his wife Sharon of 40 years emphasize personal growth and development through the Word of God. The ministry of the Holy Spirit is the focus and the hallmark of their mission. Read more about them here.

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If you enjoyed the podcast, please rate it on Stitcher Radio and leave a review. If you have a suggestion for a Bible topic, you would like to see taught, or if you have a question, please e-mail me at emery@emeryhorvath.com

Podcast Notes

The No Drama Life: Review on the Matter of Holy Living

Let’s talk about the ‘no drama life.’

1 Thessalonians 4:7–14 (ESV) — 7 For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. 8 Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you. 9 Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another, 10 for that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more, 11 and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, 12 so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one. 13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.

If you remember from a previous podcast, we covered the first six verses where Paul talks about pleasing God and, living a holy life, especially a sexually pure life.
We talked about how holiness transcends both Covenants.
We see in Leviticus 19:12, that God commanded the Israelites to be holy because He is holy.
That commandment jumps to the other side of the Cross in 1 Peter 1:15–16.
We also saw that word ‘holy’ in Hebrew used in Joshua 24:19 is plural meaning that God is holy with all kinds of holiness.
So, Jesus’ followers are to shun sexual immorality and you know when you do that, you will stick out like a sore thumb.
Paul follows this up in verse seven with the following admonition.

For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness.

Paul switches now to the idea of brotherly love.

Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you.

The Greek word for ‘brotherly love’ is not agape.
It’s the word love phileō.
And with that thought, here is the Definition of the Day.
The Greek word here for love, phileō is love for a fellow believer.
It is brotherly love or brotherly kindness.
It’s not an inferior word to agape — it’s a different word with a different emphasis.
Phileō has a sense of friendship attached to it—along with affection and an agreement or similar interests—it is not always a suitable synonym for agapaō.

Romans 12:10 (ESV): 10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.

And with that thought, here is the Historical Background of the Day.

The brother-sister relationship was the strongest of bonds in the 1st-century world of the Bible. The relationship between sisters and brothers in particular was held to be the strongest and the most intimate of relationships in the ancient world. Cooperation in all things among siblings is essential. In modern America, we accept quite freely the idea of sibling rivalry, as if this is natural, or perhaps even appropriate. In the ancient world, sibling rivalry would have been regarded with, at the very least, distaste—at most, horror.²

Saying it again: The brother-sister relationship was the strongest of bonds in the 1st-century world of the Bible.
That’s the world of the New Testament and, that’s one reason why Paul uses this word here as it relates to our relationship with fellow believers.
He uses the strongest term available in the ancient world.
Cooperation among Jesus’ followers is essential.
Rivalries — strife and striving among Jesus’ followers should never be named among us.
So again, we are talking about the Greek word for brotherly love.
It occurs twice in this verse.
You can read verse nine as “Concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to brotherly love one another — to love one another with the strongest of bonds and to never be in strife with one another.
Paul told them, you are doing a good job at this — kick it up a notch

10 for that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more,

The same thing he said about walking holy — you’re doing good — do it better.

The No Drama Life: Three Directives — Two Reasons

Now, we come to the next couple of verses.

11 and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, 12 so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.

In it, we have three directives,

Aspire to Live Quietly
Mind Your Own Affairs
Work with Your Hands

We have that followed by two reasons why you need to do these three things.

Walk Properly Before Outsiders
Be Dependent on No One

Aren’t you glad the Lord spells this out for you so plainly?
Let’s take these up one at a time.

The No Drama Life: Aspire to Live Quietly

So the first thing you want to be sure you check the box on if you want to have a ‘no negative drama life’ is to be a person of quietness.
If you remember in a previous podcast, we talked about you not being the source of hindrance when it comes to getting your prayers answered.
Same thing here.
To avoid drama, you can’t be the lead actor in the drama.
So the verse starts with the word ‘and.’
You should kick it up a notch ‘brotherly loving one another’ AND.
And what?
And aspire to live quietly.
Now, your KJV will use the word ‘study’ instead of the word ‘aspire’ — study to be quiet is KJV to be instead of aspire to live quietly.
In the 21st century, the word ‘study’ casts a different word picture than in the 17th century when this was translated.
And so, ‘study’ is not a great translation.
The ESV uses the word ‘aspire.’
Aspire to live quietly — aspire to mind your affairs.
The Greek word ‘aspire’ means to strive for, or be ambitious for.
Strive to live quietly.
Make it your ambition in life to have all the borders of your life surrounded with peace.
Do you know what the word ‘quietly’ means in the language of the 1st century?
Does it mean you can’t live in the city because of all the happenings with people in close quarters?
The word ‘quietly’ means to refrain from disturbing activity, be peaceable/orderly.

1 Timothy 2:1–2 (ESV) 1 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.

A quiet life should be our ambition — it should be what we aspire to.
By praying for kings, peace is an attainable possibility.
The opposite is also true — the lack of prayer for your political leaders means the enemy will have his way.
Wars come — the gospel is not preached while people are ducking bombs and bullets.
Giving stops – missions come to a halt.
Now, Paul is writing while Nero was the political leader in charge.
Paul was praying for Nero — the very man that would have him beheaded.
Under Paul, the gospel went forward.
As far as Rome was concerned things were quiet and peaceable.
Rome was the top dog on the block — there were no wars.
Now, Paul had a lot of consternation in his life.
But, that wasn’t self-inflicted drama.
It wasn’t because Paul didn’t strive to live quietly and mind his own affairs.
Paul’s problems came because of the gospel that he preached.
Riots broke out over the effectiveness of his ministry.
Religious people’s positions were threatened.
Economies were affected because born-again people turned from the business of idols.
There was big money in idolatry.
Paul didn’t suffer from a lack of peace because he instigated the drama with personal foolishness and religious debates of minor importance.

Isaiah 30:15 (ESV) — 15 For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, “In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and trust shall be your strength.”

You know people say that I’m quiet — I don’t say much.
Sharon’s godmother is in the home with us — that’s what she said.
He doesn’t talk much.
You know that’s the only drama that surrounds my life — I don’t talk much and you know what — I don’t even talk much about that.
And with that thought, here is the Quote of the Day.

Many people are missing the highest order. I went to a person who was full of the Spirit, but was all the time saying, “Glory! Glory! Glory!” I said, “You are full of the Holy Ghost, but the Spirit cannot speak because you continually speak.” He kept still then and the Spirit began speaking through him. We are all together in the way of God.³

Watch Jesus as He operates in quietness.

John 8:3–8 (ESV) — 3 The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst 4 they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. 5 Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” 6 This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. 7 And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground.

Notice that the religious accusers were pressuring Jesus for an answer.
But also notice, Jesus’ response to this pressure, He stooped down to the ground.
What was He doing?
He was waiting.
Being pressured to answer, being pressured to respond, Jesus waited.
And when He did speak, Jesus only spoke fourteen words.
This is an example to us of how we are to respond when we find ourselves in similar circumstances.
Wait for direction.
Do not move until you have the answer.
So, refrain from disturbing activity.
Peace and being peaceable is what we should strive for.
Praying for your leaders is one path to this kind of life.
I know my mother shared something with me.
We have almost daily talks — she’s eight-four years of age — so I’ve been trying to call her four to five times a week.
She was sharing some of her political views with me.
I have some of the same views but don’t share them — I don’t talk politics.
So, I just listen to her — she got a little rough with some of our leaders.
I just kept listening and not saying anything.
Finally, one day she said, I stopped listening to all of the commentators that were expressing her views.
She said it just stirs her up and she gets all upset.
I told her, I quit doing that a long time ago.
Why? Quiet and peaceable life.
Jesus is the answer to sin and unrighteousness.
There’s no use being inflamed all the time.
It doesn’t do you any good.

Grief: Doing Your Own Business

and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you,

Mind your own affairs.
Some people try to mind their business, God’s business, and everybody else’s business.
You’re not that good.
You struggle to handle your own business, why would you mess with someone else’s?
We’re talking personal affairs.
Personal affairs should be personal.
Stick to the message — stick to the gospel.
Stick to getting the Word out.
You don’t have time for the rest of it.
You’ve heard the expression ‘Mind your own business.’
That’s called an idiom — an idiom is a colloquial expression.
Common everyday vernacular or speech.
Everyone in the English-speaking world knows what you mean when you say to a person — mind your business.
To mind your business, you need to know what your business is.
What’s your business?
Minding your business means you go on fulfilling your normal responsibilities while I fulfill mine.
And, with that thought, here is the Illustration of the Day.

One night in Chicago, many years ago, when I was on my way home I saw a man leaning against a lamppost. Stepping up to him and placing my hand on his shoulder, I said: “Are you a Christian?” The man flew into a rage, doubled up his fist and I thought he was going to pitch me into the gutter. I said: “I’m very sorry if I’ve offended you, but I thought I was asking a proper question.” “Mind your own business,” he roared. “That is my business” I answered. About three months later, on a bitterly cold morning about daybreak, someone knocked at my door. “Who’s there!” I asked. A stranger answered, and I said: “What do you want?” “I want to become a Christian,” was the reply. I opened the door, and to my astonishment, there was the man who had cursed me for talking to him as he leaned against the lamppost. He said: “I’m very sorry. I haven’t had any peace since that night. Your words have haunted and troubled me. I couldn’t sleep last night, and I thought I’d come and get you to pray for me.” That man accepted Christ and went on to serve the Lord.

You see, this man knew his business.
Minding your business means knowing your business — it means knowing what is not your business.
The Lord told a minister of the gospel – a saintly prayer warrior of a woman that 98% of the knowledge that’s available — you don’t need to know.
Don’t seek answers to questions about situations that don’t involve you.
Stop interfering in things that don’t concern you.
Know your business.
You’ve heard the old prayer

Lord, help me to keep my ears open — my big mouth shut — and my nose out of other people’s business, Amen.

That’s a good prayer concept.
Minding your business can be expressed in different ways.
Here are some other ways to say this:
- “Sit in your own shade.”
- “Do not meddle in other people’s affairs.”
- “Do not always tell other people how they should do things.”⁴

The No Drama Life: Work with Your Hands

Work with your hands not your mouth — your mouth meaning by being in other people’s business.
Work with your hands — provide for your family.
Aspire to be quiet.
I told my girls when they were growing up – don’t you date anyone that doesn’t have a job.

Genesis 2:8, 14–15 (ESV) — 8 And the Lord God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and there he put the man whom he had formed… The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.

A couple of words we want to look at here and with that thought, here is the Definition of the Day.
The Hebrew word for work [God put the man in the Garden to work it] — the word work means to exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity.
The word means to till, toil, work, serve, accomplish, do; let work, urge to work; make serve, and take into service.⁵
The Hebrew word for ‘to keep’ means to maintain.
It’s a verb so it’s an active thing.
It means to keep in a certain state, position, or activity.
How about to keep, watch, preserve, to be on guard, to be aware?
So God’s assignment for your life must be worked and guarded with the authority of God.
Now go down three verses to verse eighteen.

Genesis 2:18 (ESV) — 18 Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.”

So, which came first the chicken or the egg? – That is the woman or the job?
In verse fifteen, God gave the man a job then He gave him a woman.
You could look at this another way.
God’s assignment for your life comes first and then God brings a helpmate to get it done.
People say well family comes first.
Everybody says that.
Even sinners say that.
But, is it true?
Is that what we read here in Genesis?
It looks like the assignment came first.

Luke 18:29–30 (ESV) — 29 And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, 30 who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life.”

What do you think now?
Does the assignment come first or does family come first?

The No Drama Life: Recap

Okay, so let’s recap.

Aspire to Live Quietly
Mind Your Own Affairs
Work with Your Hands

Now, there are two reasons why you need to do these three things.

Walk Properly Before Outsiders
Be Dependent on No One

The No Drama Life: Because People Are Watching

We need to live the ’no negative drama life’ because people who don’t know God are watching us.
They have enough negative drama themselves.
That’s the effect of sin and the curse of the Law and not having the power of God and the Fruits of the Spirit to help them overcome these situations.
And, here you are the Christian, the Jesus follower, — you are as messed us as they are.
Why should they follow your Jesus?
It doesn’t seem to be helping you.
They have enough trouble of their own.
What they are looking for is a way out.
So you see, the ’no negative drama life’ is a witness.
Walking in peace is witness.
Living in quietness — that is having a quiet and peaceable life is attractive to folks that have piles of problems.
They have problems alright – sin is a big problem.
They don’t know that’s the source of it — they don’t about demons that are endeavoring to take advantage of them because they are weak and exposed.
If your life is in order — that preaches!
If you’re well in your body — that ministers!
If you’re walking in abundance — that’s a shining light.
If you are dependent on God and no one else — you see that was the second reason to live the ‘no negative drama life’ that’s a stunning proclamation of God’s power to a lost and dying world.
You need to live the ‘no negative drama life.’

Now, Father God, your way is right — it’s always right. Your wisdom is above all — help us to live the ‘no negative drama life.’ Help us to be a witness to a lost and dying world that’s looking for the answers that are only found in you. We ask these blessings in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Three Things You Can Do to Rise Above Unnecessary Drama in Your Everyday Life.
You guys have a great God-week and we will see you next time for another edition of Light on Life.

#034: Three Steps To Affair Proof Your Marriage [Podcast]

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References:

Freling Foster, Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations ↩
David A. deSilva, NT201 The Cultural World of the New Testament, Logos Mobile Education (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2015). ↩
Smith Wigglesworth – The Complete Smith Wigglesworth ↩
Handbook on Paul’s First Letter to the Thessalonians ↩
The Lexham Analytical Lexicon of the Hebrew Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2017). ↩

emeryhorvath.com

Equipping people to pursue God's glory

Three Things You Can Do to Rise Above Unnecessary Drama in Your Everyday Life

Podcast: Light on Life Season Ten Episode Thirty-Two

by Emery Horvath

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