The Problem of
Ideleness
2 Thess 3:8-14
My
goal is to look at the text of 2 Thess 3:6-15 and the topics of work and
idleness. However, there are some important instructions from the Apostolic
Band in verses 1-5. This material sets the context for the instruction found in
6-15.
1.
A. Last Words: or discernment
1 Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may
run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you, 2 and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked
men; for not all have faith. The Lord's Faithfulness
1. B.
Last Words 3 But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard
you from the evil one. 4 And we have confidence in the Lord concerning you, both that
you do and will do the things we command you. 5 Now may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and
into the patience of Christ.
2. The
Strongest Command
6 But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus
Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not
according to the tradition which he received from us.
3. The
Apostolic Example
7 For you yourselves know how you ought to follow us, for we
were not disorderly among you; 8 nor did we eat anyone's bread free of charge, but worked with
labor and toil night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, 9 not because we do not have authority, but to make ourselves
an example of how you should follow us.
4. The
Command Plainly Stated
10 For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If
anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.
5.
Idleness is Disorderly
11 For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a
disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies.
6. An
Exhortation to the idle
12 Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord
Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread.
7. An
Exhortation to the rest
13 But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good.14 And if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note
that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed. 15 Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a
brother.
Let's
look at the text:
1.
A. Last Words: or discernment
1 Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may
run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you, 2 and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked
men; for not all have faith.
We have
met prayer in many places in these two books. Athe Apostles pray for the church
and here the church is admonished to pray for Paul, Silas and Timothy--that
Apostolic Band so concerned with this church.
Notice
what they request prayer for: They ask for prayer to be made for their
ministry. They desire the Word of the Lord to go out and accomplish all it was
intended to do in other places just like it had in Thessalonica. The results of
preaching three consecutive Saturdays in the synagogue were an amazing work of
God among them. If you remember, my argument at the time was that this first
generation of Thesalonian believers were more noble in how they received the
Word than even the Bereans.
The
Apostolic Band also asks for prayer that they might be delivered from
unreasonable and wicked men--because not all who hear the gospel will believe
and be found with saving faith.
There is
a category of people with whom it is impossible to reason, especially on
spiritual matters. How many times have you been in a conversation with someone
a spiritual topic comes up only to have the countenance of the other person
change--often going blank. In ever growing degree, our culture does not like
the Lord Jesus Christ, his people and what they should stand for out of his
word.
Then and
now, we have the same Lord who is the same, does the same things and manifests
himself for the good of his people, the church.
This
is a summary from the Apostles to burn
this important truth into the soft tissue of their minds.
1. B.
Last Words: The Lord's Faithfulness
3 But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard
you from the evil one.
Blessed
words from concerned men who have the mind of God revealed through the Spirit.
The church may have difficult times, but its Lord and savior will see it
through. The writers can say that with all of the confidence that is possible
to have in the Lord's work concerning them.
4 And we have confidence in the Lord concerning you, both that
you do and will do the things we command you. 5 Now may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and
into the patience of Christ.
TO do the
things that have been commanded is equal to expressing love to God and Neighbor.
The other item they needed to prosper was the patience of Christ.
How
patient was the Lord Jesus Christ? If we
were to look at that one topic extensively, we would be here for many hours.
Jesus epitomized patience in so many ways. This was especially so with the
multitudes, with the Roman army, with the Jews in Jerusalem that leered at him
and jeered him with insults. He could have called legions of angels to come to
his aid, but Jesus had to suffer in his humanity for others. He patiently
suffered in his body the lashes, the tips of the thorns, the false trials and
the like in order to accomplish the work given to him by his heavenly Father. A
work done for others who could not do it themselves.
Not only
were the Apostolic Band a wonderful example of Christian work and service, but
so too the Lord they proclaimed.
It is in
the name of this Lord, the one who has been given all authority in heaven and
on earth (Matt 28:19-20), that they give the most strongly worded command in
these two epistles.
2. The
Strongest Command
6 But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus
Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not
according to the tradition which he received from us.
This is
the general principle to be given specificity shortly. But the principle is
worth noting. This isn't talking about those who don't believe. It all about
those who are considered to be brothers and sisters in the Lord. There are
times when they don't live among others in a way they have agreed to, it is the
duty of the church to withdraw from those who don't live by the established
order.
In 1
Thess 5 we saw a number of ways believers were told what was expected of them
when it comes to living a normal Christian life. Those items and this command
are the majority of things commanded in these epistles. It would be good to be
reminded of those items. Flip back a few pages to 1 Thess 5.
Let's
start at verse 11:
The Start--comfort and build up one another:
5:11 Therefore comfort each other and edify one
another, just as you also are doing. 12 And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among
you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, 13 and to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake.
Be at peace among yourselves.
Exhortation--verbal encouragement 14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient
with all.
Pursue the Good by God's standards--15 See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always
pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all. 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in
Christ Jesus for you. 19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise prophecies. 21 Test all things; hold fast what is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil.
The Goal: 23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and
may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of
our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it. 25 Brethren, pray for us. 26 Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss. 27 I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read to all the
holy brethren.
This is
the main cluster of commands found in these epistles. As I said months ago, I
believe these words show us what the Christian life is all about--it is being
faithful to the Lord in the mundane things of life.
Throughout
the years I have been in ministry, I have asked people how I can pray for them.
In the stillness of your own minds, think about how you might answer that. The
number one answer is usually, pray that I would study the Bible more. Some
might say read the Bible. But, the activity for which people ask prayer is
focused on themselves and their personal growth in grace.
Not
everyone is called to study the Bible. I've talked about reading the Bible
before and how for the first 1463 years of this era there were no printed
copies of the Bible to read. There were very few copies of manuscripts and
fewer still complete collections of the New or Old testaments. Not all had
access to read and study. Not all are called to study--that's my job and
perhaps some who have a desire to one day be an elder.
The
Christian service of each and every believer is defined by what we read in this
chapter and what we find in 2 Thess 3. There are other imperatives to add to
the list. But, let's make sure we are on the right path.
How can I
pray for you? 15 pray I don't render evil for evil to anyone, especially my
family and neighbors. Pray I always pursue what is good for all. 16 That I learn to Rejoice always, be prayerful about all things 18 give thanks always and for all things knowing this is the
will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise prophecies. 21 Test all things; hold fast what is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil.
Those are
prayer requests that touch where we live and are honest about our likely
spiritual shortcomings--we all have them to one degree or another. These are
part of that tradition the church received from the apostles. These are what
the apostles wanted read to the entire church.
3. The
Apostolic Example--narrowing in on idelness
7 For you yourselves know how you ought to follow us, for we
were not disorderly among you; 8 nor did we eat anyone's bread free of charge, but worked with
labor and toil night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, 9 not because we do not have authority, but to make ourselves
an example of how you should follow us.
Why are
all people supposed to work? It goes back to the curse of God on man after the
fall of our first parents in the garden.
Gen
3:17-19 reads 17 Then to Adam He said, "Because you have heeded the voice
of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying,
'You shall not eat of it': "Cursed is the ground for your sake; In toil
you shall eat of it All the days of
your life. 18 Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you, And
you shall eat the herb of the field. 19 In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread Till you return
to the ground, For out of it you were taken; For dust you are, And to dust you
shall return."
Retirement
is a fairly new and Western phenomena. God intends for us, ordinarily, to work.
By ordinarily, I mean if we are capable.
The
pattern for work up until the mid 19th century followed the pattern of
creation--six days of labor followed by one day of rest. Eventually that
pattern was codified into the Ten Commandments at Sinai--even though it was the
pattern since the Israelites fled Egypt. Our five day work week is a compromise
that was first found in the garment district of New York. To accommodate the
holy days of the Christians and the Jews, Saturday and Sunday were given as
days off while the other five saw 10-12 hour days.
To desire
retirement in order to be idle, is not a godly pursuit. Perhaps to change your
life to something less troublesome, but more productive, can be a godly
pursuit. I only bring this up to illustrate how much of the world's thinking
affects the way we look at things in our own lives.
The
apostolic pattern in Thessalonica was to work among them night and day--that is
a way of saying whenever work was needed throughout the days and into the
nights, they were ready to help or to do their own work. The apostles say thay
did this as an example to the church. Apparently, there were enough idle people
that they had to address it three times. We know they addressed in while among
them, it is found in 1 Thess 4:11 and finally in 2 Thess 3. They are called and
commanded to work as part of the pattern of Christian living exemplified and
illustrated by the apostles.
4. The
Command Plainly Stated
10 For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If
anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.
There
have been two occasions when I have had to invoke this command--once here and
once elsewhere. With everything else being said about Christian patience and
treating the disorderly as brethren, it take a great deal of discernment. But,
if a man is not going to work and eat his daily bread by the sweat of his brow,
the church can't let him feed off of their good graces. Some learn how to take
advantage of fellow-believers, especially those who are softer and have a
kindler way about them. If someone who can work, refuses to, they shouldn't
eat.
5.
Idleness is Disorderly
11 For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a
disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies.
They were
taught about this evil when the apostles were among them. They were admonished
in the first epistle. And now, months later, there are still who conduct
themselves among the church people not according to order. Is work important to
God? It is our tribute to him each and every day. It ought to define who we
are. In the West we often ask people what they do for a living. That is a very
biblical way of identifying what identifiers are important.
Did you
notice the mixed metaphor. The idleness is not absolute. They are still walking
among the believers, but in a disorderly manner. Besides that, they used their
time to engage inunprofitable exercises--they are busybodies. People with too
much time on their hands often become busybodies. The telephone was invented
for busybodies--the internet just makes it worse. To be idle is to use one's
time in empty and unprofitable ways.
That does
not mean all down time is sinfully idle. But, much of it is when examined by
the motivations of one's heart. It seems like there is always something to do.
Paul told
the Corinthians to "Redeem the time, for the days are evil." They
haven't gotten any less so. May the Lord deliver us in these areas that we
might be about his work, serving him by serving one another in prayer, in good
works that have been foreordained for us, according to the pattern established
by Jesus and his Apostles. That is why
we need these two remaining exhortations:
6. An
Exhortation to the idle
12 Now those who are such (idle) we command and exhort through
our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread.
7. An
Exhortation to the rest
13 But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good.14 And if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note
that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed. 15 Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a
brother.
In
all things point them to the Lord Jesus Christ for repentance and to live by
faith. The moochers of the world need to hear the gospel as well. We have been
talking about slackers in the church. But, the problem is also great in the
world. We can't do a lot for them. But we can help one another.
There
are some foods in the basement for those who have fallen on hard times. If you
find yourself unemployed or underemployed, you are welcome to take some. But,
to please God and to live in the light of his gospel, make it your job to find
gainful employment in line with the Apostolic tradition found in the Word of
God.
May
God help us to live orderly lives that will be bright lights of Gospel hope to
others. AMEN!
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