06 - Don't Faint! 2012

Last time we saw that Paul requested prayer from the Thessalonians, that the word of the Lord would “run swiftly,” and that he and the other Apostles would be protected from “unreasonable and wicked men.”

Now this time we’re going to see that we Christians are on the winning side! Paul mentions in verse 3 the Lord and His purposes. They are twofold. The Lord intends to ground us and to guard us.

3:3 “But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one.”

The Lord was going to give the Thessalonians both stability and protection. “The Lord is faithful,” he reminds them. It is clear in Scripture that God does not exempt His people from the natural disasters and ills of life. He has never promised immunity from dislike, discrimination, detention, and even death.

What He does promise is grace in the storm. He will not allow the devil to go beyond a certain line that He Himself draws with an unerring hand (Job 1:12; 1 Cor. 10:13).

After focusing on the Lord and His purposes, Paul next concentrates on the Lord and His people:

3:4 “And we have confidence in the Lord concerning you, both that you do and will do the things we command you.”

Notice that Paul’s confidence was not in the people alone, but in their Lord, the very One of whom Paul had said in another place, “He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Phil.1:6). As much as Paul loved them, he did not place his ultimate trust in them, but in the Lord.

3:5 “Now may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ.”

The Lord Jesus exercised great patience with fallen men during His earthly ministry. His own disciples required extraordinary patience at times; like the time James and John wanted to call down fire from heaven on Samaria.

Or how about when, on His way to the cross, they began to argue as to who would be the greatest in the kingdom. Jesus just kept on working with them. And so are we Christians called to be patient and longsuffering with others!

Next, the believer is charged and encouraged to walk in a disciplined lifestyle.

3:6 “But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us.”

This is a clear call for the exercise of church discipline. The word for “withdraw” is from the Greek word used for the rolling up of a sail. It suggests shrinking back from someone.

We are not to associate with a believer whose life is disorderly. This certainly flies in the face of “Political Correctness” and false concepts of love that abound in our day.

Keeping aloof from a disorderly brother or sister is an effective way of letting them know that their conduct is unacceptable. This is not a call to a “holier than thou,” attitude, nor is it to be elitist or unloving.

The word for “disorderly” means “not keeping in rank.” The disorderly person is like a soldier who is out of step. They are out of place, out of order. They are not walking in truth, and are out of synch with the truth of Christ. The following verses detail for us some examples of disorderliness.

First, Paul reminds the Thessalonians of his integrity:

3:7 “For you yourselves know how you ought to follow us, for we were not disorderly among you;”

Paul’s missionary team had been an example of self-discipline. They knew how to keep rank among themselves. There had been no jockeying for position, no insubordination, and no disorderly conduct. They could honestly say, “Follow us, and you won’t go wrong.”

Not only did Paul remind them of his integrity, he also reminds them of his industry.

3:8 “nor did we eat anyone’s bread free of charge, but worked with labor and toil night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you,”

This was Paul’s policy on the mission field. He didn’t want anyone to ever accuse him of being in it “for the money.” He chose to make tents to pay for his own expenses, along with the needs of his missionary team. There is little doubt that if his team was not working, they were witnessing. Paul abhorred idleness!

First we saw his integrity, then his industry. Now Paul will remind them of his intention.

3:9 “not because we do not have authority, but to make ourselves an example of how you should follow us.”

Paul was motivated by purpose, not pride. It would have been easy to follow his own advice to Timothy, “You shall not muzzle the ox that treads out the corn. And, the laborer is worthy of his reward” (1 Tim.5:18). But he bent over backward to put to rest the lie that he made merchandise of his converts.

He reminds them, also, of his intimation:

3:10 “For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.”

This verse contains the Christian work ethic. There was a social security system under the Mosaic Law, but it too was based on work. Farmers, when reaping their harvest, were obliged to leave the corners of their fields unreaped, along with the harvest leftovers. This was for the poor.

The government did not put its hand into the pocket of a hardworking citizen to put money in the hand of a lazy person who had no taste for work. Work was made available. The poor could follow the reapers and glean what was left.

Likewise, in the New Testament, provision was made for the genuine widow (1 Tim.5:4-13), but beyond that, social welfare was up to the family. Paul wrote in 1 Tim.5:8, “If any provide not for his own, and especially for those of his own house, he has denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.”

In America we have lost our way. As we speak, up to half of Americans are on some kind of government assistance. There are currently more people on food stamps than at any time in our history. And half of Americans pay no income taxes.

This means that the half that do pay their taxes are paying the way for the other half, most of whom are not disabled and could and should be either working or actively looking for a job.

A nation that embraces this level of entitlement spending cannot long be sustained. Eventually, the number of people living off of the hard work of others breaks the financial back of that nation and the whole thing descends into chaos.

We are all for helping people who are actively seeking to help themselves. But our country has increasingly embraced an “entitlement” mentality that says, “You owe me.” But no, America owes us nothing but protection from our enemies and the delivery of our mail.

Next, Paul directly addresses something that has been reported to him:

3:11 “For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies.”

What a sad picture of a professing Christian! Remember that the word “disorderly” was used to describe the folding of a sail. What a graphic picture of the lazy man, folding his arms and settling back to do nothing to contribute to the well-being of the community, content to coast along on the efforts of others.

Paul was indignant! Love, compassion, and a helping hand should absolutely be extended to the poor, the disabled, the aged, and the infirm, but not to able-bodied people who feel that society owes them a living.

Paul also used the word “busybodies” to describe these people. This word literally means “to be busy about useless matters.” It carries the idea of being a meddler in other people’s business.

Rather than being busy at work, they are busy prying into other people’s affairs and then gossiping about what they find. We would say they have too much time on their hands!

In response, Paul gives a word of command:

3:12 “Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread.”

Our example, as always, is Christ Himself. For many years, Jesus toiled as a carpenter. When He became a traveling preacher, He did not have a fancy horse to ride; He walked.

If the Lord of the universe chose to work and toil with His hands for a living, why should we think that we ought not to work, and work hard?

Paul also used the word “quietness” which means “to be silent.” It speaks to the kind of quiet calm that arises from within and causes no disturbance to others. It calls for the very opposite spirit than the one that motivates busybodies.

Paul said, “Work and eat your own bread.” The Christian is not to be ever on the lookout for a handout. We are not called to sponge off of others. We roll up our shirtsleeves and get to work to “bring home the bacon.”

Then Paul brings a word of caution:

3:13 “But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good.”

Perhaps this cautious word came because many in the Christian community had been played for suckers in trying to help others. They needed to keep in mind that there are needy and deserving cases.

There might also have been a possible reaction against too much ministry without enough rest. Their spiritual tank was running on empty and they were becoming discouraged.

The secret key to avoiding this is a life of balance. Jesus can be found in the gospels regularly withdrawing to an isolated place away from the crowd in order to pray. He carefully maintained a balance between work and worship, ministry and personal maintenance.

He was never “weary in well-doing.” Weary with His journey? Yes (John 4:6), but weary in well-doing? Never! He knew how to draw on the inexhaustible resources of God.

Paul closes by putting some teeth into his command:

3:14 “And if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed. 15 Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.”

“That’s not loving!” we would be told today. But it served the purpose of, first, disassociating the church from the appearance of agreeing with this kind of behavior.

It was also designed to bring the offender to his senses. Unfortunately nowadays, the offender usually just runs down the street and joins another church. Discipline is circumvented and he never changes.

Paul finally encourages them to treat him with love. If he repents, receive him back with open arms as the Father did the prodigal son.

Stand to read the benediction together:

3: 16-18 “Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way. The Lord be with you all. 17 The salutation of Paul with my own hand, which is a sign in every epistle; so I write. 18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.”