September 3, 2012
ARE YOU A HARD WORKER OR A GOOD IDLER?
2 Thessalonians 3
Beth Addy
Central Truth
Never tire of doing what is right.
Key Verse | 2 Thessalonians 3:11–13
For we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined life, doing no work at all, but acting like busybodies. Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to work in quiet fashion and eat their own bread. But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary of doing good. (2 Thessalonians 3:11-13)
2 Thessalonians 3
Pray for Us
1 Finally, brothers, 1 3:1 Or brothers and sisters; also verses 6, 13 pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, 2 3:1 Or glorified as happened among you, 2 and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men. For not all have faith. 3 But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one. 3 3:3 Or evil 4 And we have confidence in the Lord about you, that you are doing and will do the things that we command. 5 May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.
Warning Against Idleness
6 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. 7 For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you, 8 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. 9 It was not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves an example to imitate. 10 For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. 11 For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. 12 Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living. 4 3:12 Greek to eat their own bread
13 As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good. 14 If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed. 15 Do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.
Benediction
16 Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.
17 I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. This is the sign of genuineness in every letter of mine; it is the way I write. 18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
Dive Deeper | 2 Thessalonians 3
The believers at Thessalonica are confused and are starting to think the Second Coming of the Lord is happening any day now. Because of this belief, they have quit working and are being idle. Paul refers to busybodies in 1 Timothy 5 as gossipers, saying things they ought not to and wandering from house to house. The Thessalonians might be acting very similarly. They are filling their time while waiting on Christ's return, but when Christ does not return, they grow hungry and eat the bread of another man's labor. We would refer to these guys today as "moochers."
Nobody likes having others mooched off of your hard work. Paul writes that they ARE leading an undisciplined life. The participle phrase "are leading" is in the present tense. This wasn't a one-day deal; they didn't see the error of their ways and go back to work the next day. No, they ARE continuing to be idle and not working for the Lord.
Colossians 3:23-24 says, "Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve." This is hard for me. In the Parable of the Prodigal Son, I am the older brother who is upset that his lost brother gets a party. What about me? I don't want to share in a feast for someone who hasn't done any work (Luke 15:11-32).
I also struggle with admonishing or rebuking a brother well. Paul encourages the Thessalonians to warn the others as brothers if they are not working (verses 14-15). It is hard to point out the speck in someone's else eye and own the log in your own eye (Matthew 7:3-5).
Proverbs 27:5 says, "Better is open rebuke than love that is concealed." Let's be honest, it is hard to NEVER tire of doing what is right. Nobody wants to live in conflict all the time or to be the person who is always rebuking friends, but we do want to honor Christ. Let's work hard today to love our brothers/sisters and work for the Lord.
Discussion Questions
1. Have you mooched off of someone's hard work lately?
2. In what area of your life are you most prone to be idle and not work for the Lord?
3. Is there someone in your life you need to admonish or rebuke? What is holding you back?
4. In what area are you growing weary of doing the right thing? Who will hold you accountable to persevere?
WEEKLY FAMILY ACTIVITY
September 3-7 (2 Thessalonians 3- 1 Timothy 4)
Read 1 Timothy 4:7-12.
• What sports or physical exercise do you like to do?
• What do you have to do if you want to be good or better at one of them?
• What does Paul tell Timothy is more important than physical exercise?
• How can you train yourself for spiritual fitness?
• What does verse 12 say about young believers?
• What are the ways verse 12 says you can be an example to older believers?
Activity: Write all the words to verse 12 on separate pieces of paper. Place them all face down on the other side of your room or backyard. Everyone make a line. Now, one at a time, run down and grab one and bring it back. Keep doing this until the words of the verse are in order. Repeat until you have the verse memorized. You can also make it fun by timing yourself each time to see how fast you can put it in order.