2 Thessalonians 3:6-18 (NRSV) 6 Now we command you, beloved, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from believers who are living in idleness and not according to the tradition that they received from us. 7 For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us; we were not idle when we were with you, 8 and we did not eat anyone’s bread without paying for it; but with toil and labor we worked night and day, so that we might not burden any of you. 9 This was not because we do not have that right, but in order to give you an example to imitate. 10 For even when we were with you, we gave you this command: Anyone unwilling to work should not eat. 11 For we hear that some of you are living in idleness, mere busybodies, not doing any work. 12 Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living. 13 Brothers and sisters, do not be weary in doing what is right. 14 Take note of those who do not obey what we say in this letter; have nothing to do with them, so that they may be ashamed. 15 Do not regard them as enemies, but warn them as believers. 16 Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in all ways. The Lord be with all of you. 17 I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. This is the mark in every letter of mine; it is the way I write. 18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with all of you.
We come to the conclusion of Paul’s two letters to the Thessalonians, apparently the first materials written for what is now our New Testament. Paul had heard that some of the church members has misunderstood about the coming day of the Lord, quit their jobs, were loafing and filching from others, and waiting for Jesus. Paul tells them that the time might be delayed until the Lord returns and they are to be active in doing their daily tasks. Go back to work!
Paul said it was his right to be paid but that he himself worked anyway, so no one would accuse him of using his ministry as an excuse for being lazy. As Paul wraps things up, he says, “Do not grow weary in well-doing!” That is so easy – to wear out! Our old sinful nature counts the cost and the reward of what we do. We set our limits to helping others. Even Paul has limits to helping those who could work but who seemed to be acting in great faith and yearning for Christ. No sweat! But no sweat! No work. No response. Then: no eats! But never hold back on Christ’s mercy changing hearts!
Paul counsels Christians to treat each other as brothers and sisters as we encourage others to be on the Lord’s path of grace. No one has to listen. But we care for each other out of love for Christ, not out of arrogance that we have it all together. Warn others as fellow believers. May the God of peace give us peace at the end of this church year! We make promises for the next year, based on how the Lord has blessed us. We work to provide for His work and the joy of proclaiming the Gospel and worshiping together. Blessed end of the Church Year. Christ our King is with us and will come again – in His time.
Pastor Tom Trapp, Mission Pastor
Walking the Emmaus Road with the Risen Lord!
(Originally published in Emmaus Footprints, Vol. XV, Number 4, November 2013)