Have you noticed many try to demonstrate love by getting everyone else to do what they want others to do, who insist their way is the right way?
Would that we could agree with the Apostle that there is no need to be taught on loving one another but our culture has a gap on this love thing. Oh, we have all sorts of love but most are not centered in Jesus. ‘Brotherly love’ is English for the Greek ‘philadelphia’ which is fraternal care for others, those we have a commonality with in relationship which in this example is our relationship as disciples in Christ. Paul says that we have been ‘taught by God to love one another’ yet do we live this out as the LORD intends. What is best for fellow disciples before God may not necessarily be what we feel is most important. Our perspective of priorities comes in our maturity in the LORD and not simply from getting Jesus first.
As Paul continues this thought, notice the kind of life that we are to be living in Jesus out of which we can express this love of the brethren,
The Thessalonians were already doing this but in our generation the traits expected in those who are demonstrating brotherly love sometimes have not been nurtured. Without these traits, it likely will be difficult to appropriately express ‘philadelphia’ love as Jesus would desire. ‘To live quietly, to mind your own affairs, to be about your own business’ are all part of the work of Christ within which flows out ‘in His image’ and accurately expresses His care of the brethren.
To ‘walk properly before outsiders’ and to ‘be dependent on no one’ flow out of the traits of those living in the sufficiency of Christ. We are not stressed by the world but are content in Jesus, at peace in Him and able to show forth His attitude toward life before those around us.
May it be so, Lord Jesus.