“In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers, to keep away from every brother who is idle and does not live according to the teaching you received from us.”
2 Thessalonians 3:6
The church in Thessalonica was a young vibrant church, birthed through persecution. It was familiar with suffering and patient in trials. Paul called them a “model” for other churches. Their faith in God was evidenced through their perseverance in facing hardship. However, Paul recognized a weakness in his fledgling congregation that he warns them about in 1 Thessalonians 5:14:
“And we urge you, brothers warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone.”
Paul cautions them regarding our tendencies to drift into idleness. A message that they did not heed as Paul has to expound upon his warnings again in 2 Thessalonians 3:7-12:
“For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to make ourselves a model for you to follow. For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: ’If a man will not work, he shall not eat.’ We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy, they are busybodies. Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the bread they eat.”
According to Paul’s letters to the Thessalonians, this disease called idleness manifests itself in two strains. One is just outright laziness (slothfulness). This strain of the disease is pretty straight forward. It is knowing what needs to be done, but choosing not to do it. Paul calls his brothers and sisters in Christ to task instructing them that if they do not work, they do not eat! There is no place for laziness in God’s Kingdom. The second strain of the disease is equally as devastating. It is called “being a busybody”. People who are busybodies occupy their time with many things that have no bearing on their responsibilities. They are busy, but their activities are not useful. They fill their day with so many things that they neglect to accomplish the most necessary tasks. They don’t appear lazy, but they are accomplishing no more than the man who puts his hand to nothing.
It is a “disease”! It is habitual and contagious! In his letter to Timothy, Paul instructs him to encourage the younger widows to remarry for two reasons: one is that their sensual desires may overcome their dedication to Christ, but secondly it is to keep them from becoming idle:
“Besides, they get into habit of being idle and going from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying things they ought not to.”
1 Timothy 5:13
We must be aware that idleness can very much develop into a lifestyle habit! A habit that robs us of our productivity. Idleness is also contagious, that is why Paul instructs the Thessalonians to “keep away from every brother who is idle and does not live according to the teaching you received from us.” We must separate ourselves from those people who have no desire to move forward. If you yoke yourself to a man who will not plow, you too will not plow! Let us then expose and avoid the temptation to eat the bread of idleness. No one ever accomplished anything great for God by embracing it!
Pastor Scott Burr
http://faithandworshipseries.blogspot.com
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