Christians ought to make an effort to concentrate quietly on their own affairs. Do not get involved in other people’s affairs and be prepared to roll up your sleeves. To work with your hands is not inferior whatsoever (for Greeks, working with your hands was primarily something that slaves and poor people did). Thus, Paul and his companions themselves also showed this (1 Thessalonians 2:9; see also Acts 18:3—Paul was tentmaker by trade). Once again Paul underlines that this is a real instruction.
11 and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you,