Where's our Work Ethic?

2 Thessalonians 3-Part 3
For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.   2 Thess. 3:10


LET IT GLOW


Do you have a job outside the home or is your main job keeper of the home? Either way, it is work. I was a teacher in both public and Christian schools for 15 years. Most of those years were while our children were growing up at home, so I know how demanding two jobs can be. My job was a supplement to my husband's income from small churches who could not provide him a full-time pastor's salary.  Also, my income helped  with our family's provisions.

Paul and his missionary team worked to support themselves so they would not be a burden to the local church. He tells that in verse 8, how they worked day and night. (He was a tent maker by trade.) He paid his own way, picked up his own tab, even though the Lord allowed preachers of the gospel to to obtain their livelihood from the gospel (1 Cor. 9:14). He was a good example, a model, for the Christians to follow.

In 1 Corinthians 4:12, Paul says he labors, working with his own hands.

Philippians 2:5-7 states, "Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bondservant, and being made in the likeness of men."

Are you a me-first person or an others-first person? Do you cling to your rights with a tight grasp, or do you empty yourself, like Christ and Paul, for the sake of others? The degree of willingness to give up your rights reflects your true priorities (verses 3-4). [Steadfast Christianity]

I still work outside the home now, only two days a week, at our family business. The other three days I babysit my granddaughter, which isn't really considered work to me. Paul's instructions on work-eat, don't work-no eat could be applied today, don't you think? I think if more people worked for their provisions, they would be tired at the end of the day, with  no energy to get into mischief or drugs. Where's our work ethic in America?

LET IT GROW

In verses 6-10, Paul commands the Thessalonians in Jesus' name, to withdraw, remove, themselves from those who were unruly, walking disorderly. These were people who deliberately disobeyed what Paul had taught them. They were persistently practicing disobedience, therefore, Paul had warned the church earlier about these false teachers. Now it was time to dismiss the rebellous one from the fellowship in the church. This was in order that their influence would not lead the Thessalonians down the same path.

"Paul's purpose is to bring about repentance and salvation in the disobedient one, not to condemn them," stated David Guzik in his commentary.

Paul's instructions was for the church to not overlook or condone this activity of rebellion. Are we to do the same?

How is my walk? Is it obedience to God's Word or is it rebellious? Am I leading others down the right or wrong path?


LET IT GO

Work til Jesus comes.

Stay obedient to God's Word, not disobedient, leading others on the right path.