Waiting • 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15
By Cyndi Grace
This is our final lesson in Thessalonians, and it is one that strikes a nerve in our current society: church discipline. Church discipline is a term modern churches consider unloving and even archaic, but it was important to the Apostle Paul that the church exercise this practice because the validity and reputation of the church could be at risk.
The particular discipline Paul discussed in our passage is that of working versus idleness. The early church was a community, as described in Acts 4:32, Now, the entire group of those who believed were of one heart and mind, and no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but instead they held everything in common (CSB). Since everyone was sharing everything they had, it was important that everyone share.
However, evidently in this church there were those who were taking but not contributing anything to the whole. Not only were they not contributing, they were stirring up trouble. Paul called them busy bodies and warned that they should be shunned: Keep away from every brother and sister who is idle (v.6 CSB). His final admonition to the idle people was, If anyone isn’t willing to work, he should not eat (v.10 CSB).
These are hard words to read for those of us who believe in charity and making sure everyone is taken care of. It seems very unloving. However, notice how Paul defined the idle: “…isn’t willing to work…” There is a massive difference between not being able to work and not being willing to work.
Throughout the Bible, laziness and being a sluggard are looked down upon. Not willing to work is a character flaw. Here are but two of the many verses I found concerning laziness:
— “Whoever is slack in his work is a brother to him who destroys” (Proverbs 18:9 ESV).
— “But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever” (1Timothy 5:8 ESV).
These are convicting verses, for they compare idleness to being a destroyer of others and worse than an unbeliever. These words don’t sit well upon our modern ears. They seem judgmental and severe, but are they? Words of discipline are seldom comforting to the offender, but they set important boundaries that provide order for the whole.
Currently, we can observe how those who refuse to work affect the family unit. Innocent children go hungry and the idle depend upon others to fulfill their obligations. We see the fruits of idleness in increased social unrest. Idleness increases covetousness and results in robberies, violence, and a feeling of entitlement
We sense the angst of those who work hard only to see their fruits going to those who are not willing to work. The result? Division occurs. We see a lack of self-worth in those who are idle. They give up on life; they lack ambition. I could list more but I think we can see that the consequence of idleness is chaos and sin.
That would explain Paul’s hard teaching. His words were to protect the church. The Body of Christ could not be seen by the world as a group of slackers and busy bodies. The world needed to see a bright light showing Christ.
Paul set the model as he himself worked so as to not be idle. There is an adage that a chain is only as strong as its weakest link. So it is in the church. We must be filled integrity and honesty — bearers of the light. It takes only one person to ruin the whole if not handled correctly.
Although this was an extremely strong word to a few, the letter ends with instruction to the many:
Stand strong and do not become weary in doing good. Don’t associate with those who are disobedient, but rather warn them and encourage them to repent.
The Thessalonian church was spreading the Gospel to many places. It had a reputation of being Children of Light. Paul wanted nothing to hinder their testimony for the sake of the Gospel.
What should we learn from our text? We cannot allow anything to hinder the Gospel even if quelling it seems unpleasant. We must stand and not be weary in doing good. We must work in unity and continue to follow God’s leadership. So, Church, let us be strong in these last days.
Maranatha!
First Church, Jackson, and is a conference speaker and Bible teacher.
