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The Obligation to Work
2 Thessalonians 3.6-13
Good News Translation (GNT)
*************************
6 Our friends, we command you in the name of
our Lord Jesus Christ to keep away from
all believers who are living a lazy life and who
do not follow the instructions that we gave
them.
7 You yourselves know very well that you should
do just what we did. We were not lazy when
we were with you.
8 We did not accept anyone's support without
paying for it. Instead, we worked and toiled;
we kept working day and night so as not to be
an expense to any of you.
9 We did this, not because we do not have the
right to demand our support; we did it to be an
example for you to follow.
10 While we were with you, we used to tell you,
"Whoever refuses to work is not allowed to
eat."
11 We say this because we hear that there are
some people among you who live lazy lives
and who do nothing except meddle in
other people's business.
12 In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ
we command these people and warn them to
lead orderly lives and work to earn their own
living.
13 But you, friends, must not become tired of
doing good.
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Commentary taken from
'The Applied New Testament Commentary'
(Kingsway)
The Obligation to Work
2 Thessalonians 3.6-13
Paul writes with the full authority of an apostle of Jesus;
that is, he writes with Jesus' own authority.
Paul commands the Thessalonians to keep away from every brother who is idle.
They did not live according to the teaching that Paul had given.
They were expecting the Lord to come immediately.
Therefore, they had stopped working; they no longer earned their own living.
They had become lazy, and were asking for help from the others who continued
to work.
They had already received teaching from Paul on these matters in his first letter
to the Thessalonians. Now, if they refuse to obey Paul's command, they must be
put out of the fellowship of the church.
We must have no fellowship with those who refuse to repent and continue
knowingly in sin.
Here a question arises. For what kind of sin must we keep away from our brother?
Because many verses in the New Testament tell us to remain at peace with our
brother, but only a few tell us to separate from him. This is a difficult question.
Each case must be looked at individually.
There are two purposes for remaining separate from our brother:
first, to bring our brother to repentance; and
second, to keep the church pure.
In order to decide how to behave toward a brother who is sinning,
we need the wisdom and guidance of the Holy Spirit.
During the time they stayed in Thessalonica, Paul, Timothy, and Silas
earned their own living. Surely, then, the Thessalonians ought to do the same!
In fact, Paul tells the Thessalonians that they should be following his example.
Paul taught not only by word, but also by the example of his own life.
If our lives match our preaching, then people will be much more likely to
heed what we say. According to the teaching of the Bible, begging is wrong.
If a man has the strength to work, then he must work.
If a man strong enough to work refuses to do so, then let him not eat, says Paul.
Even those who are handicapped can usually do something to help earn their living.
Those, of course, who are truly unable to meet their own needs will
require assistance from others.
But if they are believers, they should not resort to begging.
Some of the Thessalonians were lazy and simply sat or wandered about doing nothing.
Whenever a man has no work of his own to do, he usually ends up interfering with
his neighbour's work.
If we remain idle, Satan will always find us something to do!
Our minds are constantly running. If we are not busy doing good, we will soon be
busy doing evil!
Paul especially exhorts those who are idle.
Such people we command and urge to settle down and earn the bread they eat.
Paul did not admonish people just to put them down, but rather to help them improve
their lives.
Paul did not want to drive anyone out of the church permanently.
Even if the lazy and idle people don't heed Paul's admonition, at least
let the other Thessalonians heed it and continue doing good;
let them continue to follow Paul's example and work hard.
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