WORKING WITNESS

Opening Prayer

Holy Spirit, deepen my understanding in the Word as I study it today. Show me how to apply it to every part of my life—my thoughts, as well as my actions.

Read 2 THESSALONIANS 3:4–18

We have confidence in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do the things we command. May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance.

Warning Against Idleness

In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers and sisters, to keep away from every believer who is idle and disruptive and does not live according to the teaching[a] you received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you to imitate. 10 For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.”

11 We hear that some among you are idle and disruptive. They are not busy; they are busybodies. 12 Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the food they eat. 13 And as for you, brothers and sisters, never tire of doing what is good.

14 Take special note of anyone who does not obey our instruction in this letter. Do not associate with them, in order that they may feel ashamed. 15 Yet do not regard them as an enemy, but warn them as you would a fellow believer.

Final Greetings

16 Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.

17 I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand, which is the distinguishing mark in all my letters. This is how I write.

18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Thessalonians 3:6 Or tradition

New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Meditate

‘May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance.’1

Think Further

It can be tempting to adopt a rose-tinted view of the early church, but it’s clear that even among the exemplary Thessalonians there were some who refused to comply with the apostles’ teaching and example (vv. 6, 9). How would you advise the church to deal with this situation? In Paul’s view, the time for gentle persuasion is past. He urges such people to comply (v. 12) and commands the rest of the Thessalonians to avoid them (though not to excommunicate them altogether), to shame them into realizing that their behavior is wrong (vv. 6, 14, 15). However, before we unquestioningly adopt similar tactics in our communities today, it’s worth reflecting on potential differences between the Thessalonians’ culture and our own.

In first-century Mediterranean societies, the honor of belonging to the social group, and the shame of exclusion, were powerful motivations for people’s behavior,2 but today, certainly in Western cultures, shaming someone is usually a blunt and cruel instrument for changing their behavior, more likely to lead to hurt or further antagonism than to redemption. What tactics do you think might be more appropriate or effective?

The nature of the insubordination among the Thessalonians is a refusal to work (v. 10). It seems unlikely that this was connected with their belief in Jesus’ imminent coming, or Paul would surely have addressed that issue here.3 More plausibly, they have become reliant on donations from patrons, busying themselves on their behalf in the public assembly and failing to earn their own food.4 We cannot extrapolate from this that manual labor is somehow more Christian than working in politics, for example, but we might reflect: is the way I spend my time, whether paid or not, honoring to God and to others?

Apply

Prayerfully reflect over the next few weeks on how you use your time. Do you feel called to make any changes?

Closing prayer

Merciful Father, apart from your Spirit, I confess that, all too often, I am prone to run amuck. Please fill me to overflowing with your grace, mercy, and peace.

Last Updated on February 16, 2024 by kingstar

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