Read with Me
2 Thessalonians 3:6-10 (HCSB)
Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from every brother who walks irresponsibly and not according to the tradition received from us. For you yourselves know how you must imitate us: We were not irresponsible among you; we did not eat anyone’s food free of charge; instead, we labored and struggled, working night and day, so that we would not be a burden to any of you. It is not that we don’t have the right to support, but we did it to make ourselves an example to you so that you would imitate us. In fact, when we were with you, this is what we commanded you: “If anyone isn’t willing to work, he should not eat.”
Listen with Me
This section of Paul’s letter might seem harsh to some people these days. That is primarily because the idea of what the Church is has changed since Paul’s day.
Today, many people see the Church as primarily a need-meeting organization, helping those without the basic necessities of life. And for that reason, there is an emphasis on helping people as our primary Christian duty, even if those people are able-bodied but unwilling to work to support themselves for whatever reason.
But in Paul’s day, indeed for the majority of the time of the Church’s existence, the Church was seen differently. It was seen as those who had been called out of the world in order to continue the saving mission of Jesus by going forth in his power, not just giving a handout to those who were physically or emotionally broken, but healing them, bringing the wholeness of God’s kingdom into their lives, and then integrating them into that mission.
Paul himself, though physically afflicted by his “thorn in the flesh” (2 Corinthians 12:7-10) and impeded by the scars from the wounds he had suffered from the hands of unbelievers, was never a drain on the local congregation. Though often supported by other congregations, when he ran short of resources, he did not beg or ask the Church to meet his needs. Instead, he worked with his own hands, plying his trade as a leatherworker and tent maker (acts 18:1-3), so as not to be a burden.
Paul knew that the people of God’s kingdom were loving and soft-hearted. He also knew that there were abundant people, both in and out of the congregation, who would be willing to take advantage of that soft-heartedness, refusing to do the work they were capable of, and instead persuading the Church members to support them in their indigent lifestyle.
Paul would not allow this draining of resources away from the vital work of saving souls and helping people to grow into Christlike disciples. And for that reason, whenever he established congregations, he included the admonition that those who were able bodied and not too old to work with their own hands to provide for themselves so that the Church would not be burdened with caring for them.
Pray with Me
Father, You are right when you say that we see the Church much differently than those who belonged to it in earlier centuries, and even earlier decades. Some congregations have abandoned the spreading of the gospel entirely, because they see it as being too divisive. Instead, they have moved to a focus on the “social gospel”, doing good works, feeding the poor, and helping in other ways, not as a means to gaining an opportunity for sharing the gospel, but as an end in itself. Unfortunately, without helping the people find the physical, emotional, and social wholeness that is available only through a relationship with God through saving faith in Jesus, the needs just keep multiplying. And without strong encouragement for the people in the congregation to be active in the work of saving souls, that vital work is left to a shrinking number of pastors and evangelists, and society just keeps sliding further and further away from You and Your light. Help us, Lord, to regain our passion for the real work you have left for us as the people of Your kingdom, so that we don’t just try to meet the essential needs of those around us, but so that we help them to find real wholeness of body, mind, heart and soul through salvation and through growth in Your Spirit, so that our world can be truly transformed. Amen.