Compiled By: Lisa K Gonzales
From: The Life Application Study Bible
6 “And now, dear brothers and sisters, we give you this command with the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ: Stay away from any Christian who lives in idleness and does not follow the tradition of hard work we gave you. 7 For you know that you ought to follow our example. We were never lazy when we were with you. 8 We never accepted food from anyone without paying for it. We worked hard day and night so that we would not be a burden to any of you. 9 It was not that we did not have the right to ask you to feed us, but we wanted to give you an example to follow. 10 Even while we were with you, we gave you this rule: ‘Whoever does not work should not eat.’” ~ 2 Thessalonians 3:6-10
In these Scriptures, Paul was writing about the person who is lazy. Paul explained that when he and his companions were in Thessalonica, they worked hard, buying what they needed rather than becoming a burden to any of the believers. The rule they followed was, “Whoever does not work should not eat.” There is a difference between leisure and laziness. Relaxation and recreation provide a necessary and much needed balance in our life; but when it is time to work, Christians should jump right in. We should make the most of our time and our talent, doing all we can to provide for ourselves and our dependents. Rest when we should be resting, and work when we should be working.
Some of the people in the Thessalonian church were falsely being taught that because Christ would return any day, they should set aside their responsibilities, quit work, do no future planning, and just sit back and wait for the Lord. But their lack of activity only led them into sin. They became a burden to the church, which was supporting them, they wasted time that could have, should have been used for helping others; and they became meddlers. These church members may have thought that they were being more spiritual by not working, but Paul told them to be responsible and get back to work. Being ready for Christ means obeying Him in every area of life. Because we know that Christ is coming, we must live in such a way that our faith and our daily practice will please Him when He arrives.
11 “Yet we hear that some of you are living idle lives, refusing to work and wasting time meddling in other people’s business. 12 In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we appeal to such people – no, we command them: Settle down and get to work. Earn your own living. 13 And I say to the rest of you, dear brothers and sisters, never get tired of doing good.” – 2 Thessalonians 3:11-13 – An idle person who does not work ends up filling his or her time with less than helpful activities, like gossip. Rumors and hearsay are tantalizing and exciting for some people to hear – it makes them feel like an insider. But they tear people down – plain and simple. Those who find their noses in other people’s business may be underemployed – they simply do not have enough to do. When they find themselves in such a position they should look for tasks to do for Christ and/or for their family – and get to work!
14 “Take note of those who refuse to obey what we say in this letter. Stay away from them so they will be ashamed. 15 Do not think of them as enemies but speak to them as you would to a Christian who needs to be warned.” – 2 Thessalonians 3:14-15 – Paul counseled the church to stop supporting financially and associating with those who persisted in their idleness. Hunger and loneliness can be good motivators to get up and get busy – a very effective way to make an idle person become productive. Paul was not advising coldness or cruelty, but the kind of “tough love” that a person would show a brother or sister. A hand up is one thing – a hand out is another. After a while we are no longer helping, we are enabling.
Father GOD, help us to not become idle and give in to the temptation of gossip. We know that there is a difference between leisure and laziness. We all need our time of relaxation and recreation to provide a necessary and much needed balance in our life; but when it is time to work, help us to be the first to jump right in. We pray that we would each make the most of our time and our talent and that we will rest when we should be resting, and work when we should be working.
“May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.” – 2 Thessalonians 3:18
