Scripture Reading(s)
2 Thessalonians 3:6-13
3:6 Now we command you, beloved, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from believers who are living in idleness and not according to the tradition that they received from us.
3:7 For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us; we were not idle when we were with you,
3:8 and we did not eat anyone’s bread without paying for it; but with toil and labor we worked night and day, so that we might not burden any of you.
3:9 This was not because we do not have that right, but in order to give you an example to imitate.
3:10 For even when we were with you, we gave you this command: Anyone unwilling to work should not eat.
3:11 For we hear that some of you are living in idleness, mere busybodies, not doing any work.
3:12 Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.
3:13 Brothers and sisters, do not be weary in doing what is right.
Reflections
Keeping busy and being useful during our time earth is something that the Bible speaks highly about. We are told that until Christ comes to take us home that our time on earth is to be fruitful and useful. Working hard at our jobs, ministry or whatever it is God has called us to do is something that can be done to ultimately glorify Him. When we work hard and become successful, is a God glorifying calling in our lives.
The key point is that just because we are doing our day to day jobs it does not mean that this is not an area of service that can use to serve God and reach out to others. Many think that just because they do a regular 9-5 job that it is not something that can be used as an area of ministry. There are many who have not yet been exposed to the Gospel and as Christians, we can make our time useful at our jobs by not only working hard, but by using it as an avenue to do God’s work in spreading the good news of Jesus Christ.
Look for ways in and areas in your own life where this can be practical. Our hope is to be set on Christ’s return, however we are to still diligently and with commitment do our jobs here on earth to the best of our ability with keeping God at the forefront of all that we do.
The Thessalonians church was one of Paul’s earliest church plant. They were a church that suffered much persecution and were waiting eagerly for the return of the Savior. As with most early Christians, they expected Jesus to return very soon. For many early Christians they thought that Jesus would return within their life time. Because of this idea some members of the Thessalonian church were no longer working. Some had quit working and were living off of the good will of the church. When word got back to Paul and the others Paul had some difficult words for those who are mooching off of the rest of the people working hard.
Today we had a lot of people who like to predict the end of the world. Every few years a new prediction comes and goes. But as Christians we should not worry about when Jesus is going to return, as much as what we are going to do while we are here on the earth. We have all been commissioned by Jesus to make this world better when we leave than when we arrived. We are to be the leaven in the dough that causes it to rise. We should work as is we are working for the Lord. Do not depend on the good will of strangers or even family to survive. We are instructed to leave childish things behind.
When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. (1 Corinthians 13:11)
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