The purpose of this encouragement (in the previous verse) is that Christians would live with dignity and therefore have a good reputation. In the end it follows again: be dependent on no one. Do not lean unnecessarily on others but work so that you can support yourself. By this Christian walk of life—the central theme in 1 Thessalonians 4:1–12—people from outside the congregation may be curious as to what moves the followers of Christ (see Colossians 4:5–6).
12 so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.