⁹ Now about your love for one another we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. 

형제 사랑에 관하여는 너희에게 쓸것이 없음은 너희가 친히 하나님의 가르치심을 받아 서로 사랑함이라

In line with 2:8 and with many other verses from Paul’s previous letters e.g. Ephesians 4:28, love does not refer to emotion but is to do with sharing with and giving to others so that they can sustain believers’ life.  For this agapo (the latter, what God showed and taught us to do) and philadelphia (the former, what we do among ourselves) are not different, in the sense that it is active and practical.

¹⁰ And in fact, you do love all of God’s family throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more, 

너희가 온 마게도냐 모든 형제를 대하여 과연 이것을 행하도다 형제들아 권하노니 더 많이 하고

The Thessalonian believers must be already financially aiding many other house churches through out the Macedonian (upper-Greece) region. So, Paul won’t say, help this church or give to that church, etc. (v.9).

¹¹ and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: you should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, 

또 너희에게 명한것 같이 종용하여 자기 일을 하고 너희 손으로 일하기를 힘쓰라

The word for ‘to lead quiet life’ also has a nuance of ‘giving up’ – so, not to lead an extravagant life, sticking to necessities, yet still earn what you can so that, directly in line with Eph 4:28, ‘they may have something to share with those in need’. If you happen to have an ambition to make a lot of money as a Christian, this is the original 1^st century model. Still keeping to the minimum need for myself and giving to others to help them keep their faith. So, in effect, making a lot of money itself cannot be the goal. Rather keeping a low profile should be the ‘ambition’. Paul’s money lesson for the day.  

¹² so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.

이는 외인을 대하여 단정히 행하고 또한 아무 궁핍함이 없게 하려 함이라

So that believers including myself do not have to rely on outside resources for their financial need (esp. in sustaining their Christian identity). For the modern day welfare this might be out of date but the principle – maintaining a modest lifestyle for myself, keeping the financial means, and being ready to help – remains the same. But remember this is still the appendix section. All should flow from knowing our God first, who deprived himself of all glory, took action, and helped us (not just attempted but achieved) become the heirs of his glory (cf. Phil 2:6-8).

Lord! Your love for us gave us life! Life that stretches beyond this world. It is not as if I am greedy for living a long life; but I marvel at the wonder of what life must be made of, so much more than what we can perceive now! May we see that richness, the love you poured out for us. Let us know it all the more so that we may copy you and display you as blessed and happy beneficiaries. Give us an ambition to live for you, live for our brothers and sisters – Live for my family and loved ones without feeling exploited or exhausted, because I will have been full of you, because your love actively and practically sustains me. Thanks and praise be to my God my Lord.