2 Thessalonians 3:6-12

Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us.  For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone's bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you.  It was not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves an example to imitate.  For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.  For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies.  Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.

 

Even though this was an exemplary church that was actively involved in the mission, there were problems.  It is apparent that there was some doctrinal confusion concerning the rapture of the Church.  There was persecution from outside the church.  However, there was also a problem of idleness within the church.  There were those who were being a burden on the church because they were not working and became a drain on the resources of the church.  Paul urges them to correct this problem.

 

AVOID THE LAZY: Paul’s advice to the faithful believers was to keep away from those who claimed to be believers but were being lazy and refusing to work.  The church is meant to be a place where people share in fellowship with one another and enjoy eating together.  These meals could involve love feasts that involved the entire body, or smaller gatherings that involved a few families.  The church was likely actively providing the basic needs of impoverished people, widows, and orphans.  Apparently, there were some in the habit of taking advantage of this atmosphere of hospitality and generosity while being idle and not contributing.  The simple solution was to avoid these people and stop inviting them to participate in this kind of table fellowship.  When people who claim to be believers act like unbelievers, we cannot continue to followship with them.  This kind of church discipline is meant to lead to repentance and the purity of the church.

 

OBSERVE OUR LABOR: Paul points to his own example and that of his team when they lived amongst them.  As ministers of the Gospel, they were working by studying, teaching, preaching, counseling, evangelizing, discipling, training, and serving the church they were in the process of planting.  This type of ministry is worthy of financial support from those who benefit from it.  Paul and his team could have legitimately been supported by the people they were reaching as Jesus taught His disciples in Matthew 10.  However, Paul did not want to burden these new believers with this responsibility, so he and his team worked to provide for their own meals. They were willing to work long hours even into the night so they could afford to purchase food.  This diligence and discipline were meant to be an example for the church to follow.  Ministers of the Gospel are to lead by example and put into practice the things they teach.

 

EARN YOUR LIVING: The principle that Paul taught while he was with them and is now reminding them again is: those who refuse to work should not eat.  Clearly, there are those who are unable to work due to health, persecution, temporary unemployment, or other factors.  The body of Christ is called upon to make provision for those who are in these circumstances.  However, if a person is able to work but unwilling to work, they should not benefit from the church’s ministry to the truly needy.  The expectation is for every believer to work to earn their own basic living needs and to be able to contribute to the support of the church and the ministries associated with it.  

 

APPLICATION: Discern those who are being idle and bring them under the discipline of the church.  Work hard to provide for the needs of our own families.  Set an example for both believers and unbelievers to see the diligence of the body of Christ that allows the church to be generous.  Practice hospitality within the body of Christ and generosity towards those who are truly in need.