A Life Pleasing to God

4:1 Finally then, brothers and sisters,1 we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received instruction from us about how2 you must live and please God (as you are in fact living)3 that you do so more and more. 4:2 For you know what commands we gave you through the Lord Jesus. 4:3 For this is God’s will: that you become holy,4 that you keep away from sexual immorality, 4:4 that each of you know how to possess his own body5 in holiness and honor, 4:5 not in lustful passion like the Gentiles who do not know God. 4:6 In this matter no one should violate the rights of his brother or take advantage of him,6 because the Lord is the avenger in all these cases,7 as we also told you earlier and warned you solemnly. 4:7 For God did not call us to impurity but in holiness. 4:8 Consequently the one who rejects this is not rejecting human authority8 but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.

4:9 Now on the topic of brotherly love9 you have no need for anyone to write you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another. 4:10 And indeed you are practicing it toward all the brothers and sisters10 in all of Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more,11 4:11 to aspire to lead a quiet life, to attend to your own business, and to work with your hands, as we commanded you. 4:12 In this way you will live12 a decent life before outsiders and not be in need.13