Working for the Glory of God

Introduction:

If I were to ask you what your thought was on the overall work ethic of Americans today, what would come to mind? Would you be encouraged, saddened, or terrified? How about the work ethic of those who are in your workplace? Or, what about the work ethic of your children or grandchildren? What does it mean to have a work ethic and how does that correlate to us working as God has commissioned us to?

What is our reward for the work that we do? What happens to those who do not work or those who are lazy workers? Can Christians not work or be lazy at it? How do we work in light of those around us? Turn with me in your Bibles to 2 Thessalonians 3. I thought it appropriate with Labor Day being tomorrow that we would turn our attention to the work that we do and how that affects our relationship with the Lord. We are going to consider verses 6-13 and I want us to look at three things 1. What do we do with those who do not work? (vv.6, 11, 14-15) 2. Why do we work? (vv.7-10) 3. Work is good, press on. (vv.12-13) Read verses 6-15.

1. What do we do with those who do not work? (vv.6, 11, 14-15)

We begin with verse 6 where Paul tells the Thessalonians that these things are written in the name of the Lord Jesus. By saying this, Paul informs the church where his authority comes from. He does this in Ephesians 4:17 when he writes “Therefore this I say, and testify in the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind.” In both instances he writes that these words do not come from his mind or his hand alone, but that it is in the name of the Lord. This is important for us not to miss here. As we look further into this topic of work, we are not saying these things regarding work on our own initiative, but as it is written in the Word of God.

Let us move on and see what Paul initially says regarding work. Notice that he begins by writing in the negative. He warns the Thessalonians “that you keep away from every brother who walks in an unruly manner.” However, this is not the only time that Paul has warned believers to run from those who live in this way. He says in Romans 16:17 “Now I urge you, brothers, to keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and stumblings contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them.” He writes in the same way in 1 Corinthians 5 where he says to not associate with any “so-called brother.” Now, we start here in 2 Thessalonians 3:6 because this verse is the starting point of Paul’s words concerning the topic of work. As we see these verses unravel, Paul starts with the lack of a disciplined life which, if true of a believer, leads to being cast out of the church (vv. 14-15). When we think of someone who lives an undisciplined life and does not work, what does he do with all this time? Today, his time could be filled by playing video games, binging on movies, social media for hours on end. There is no order or discipline in their lives. They just live to live with no care in the world. An unruly life, according to Paul, is contrary to the tradition that the Thessalonians received. What is this tradition? In this context, tradition “is used of instructions concerning everyday conduct.” It refers to the continuance of right living in the context of everyday life. This is not the first mention of tradition in this letter. Paul mentions traditions in this same way in 1 Cor. 11:2 where he praises the Corinthians for holding on to the traditions that he gave to them. Look up at 2 Thessalonians 2:15. As he writes to them about the role that false teachers will have on this earth; he commands them to “stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught.” The usage of the word ‘tradition’ is the same in both verses. Paul admonishes them to stick to the doctrines that were given to them as they would encounter difficulty regarding the evil one. Another note about tradition, Paul speaks of this as something that has been passed down generationally. Jesus had spoken about the role of what everyday life is supposed to look like. This is not tradition like you, and I may think of it, as in we think of keeping something going because we have always done it. We must be careful not to impose our own traditions and thoughts upon another person. This is especially true when it comes to the topic of work, for forcing our own ways among another can cause great dissension in the workplace.

Let us move to verse 11 and look further into those of whom it is said do not work. Paul introduces in verse 11 those who do not work as those who do so, do so daily. Paul uses the word ‘walk’ to emphasize this point. He also tells us that there were some among the Thessalonian congregation that were guilty of not working. So, what does this mean for us? It means that there are some in the church that are guilty of not working. I would go further to say that those who do just enough work to get by and earn a paycheck are lumped in this group as well. The person who is lazy and does not give his greatest effort is just like the one who does not work at all. I am amazed at the amount of people that I have worked with that are still employed. Yet, amidst their laziness our God is kind to them and meets their needs as well.

What did it look like for these people to act like ‘busybodies’? A few interesting facts about this word for your consideration this morning. First, the word for busybody ‘periergazomai’ is only used as a verb in this instance in all of Scripture. Second, the word for busybody means “to be working round about, instead of at one’s own business, signifies to take more pains than enough about a thing, to waste one’s labor, to be meddling with other people’s matters.” It is not that this word is interesting because of its definition. It is (although this word has not been used in this way) used similarly in 1 Timothy 5:11-13. Turn there with me. And as you do, we are going to see what being a busybody looks like. Read the verses. As we saw, just a moment ago, busybodies are those who meddle in others affairs. What are the widows guilty of? How does Paul speak of them? He says that they are gossips and they talk about improper things. The person who acts like a busybody is so busy being caught up in other people’s affairs that they have no time to do their own job. Have you experienced this in your workplace? Is there that one person, or maybe several, that always seem to be hanging around not doing a whole lot, but they have their finger on the pulse of the lives of their co-workers in the workplace?! Turn back with me to 2 Thessalonians 3:11. One final note about busybodies. The busybody is not only guilty of affecting their workplace. Paul says that these kinds of people existed in the church. So, not only are they guilty of being gossips at work, but where do you think that gossip may continue? Yes, that’s right the local church. Gossips do not stop being gossips at work, they carry it with them to the other areas of their lives.

Paul says in verses 14 and 15 that these kinds of people are to go under church discipline. They are not to remain in the local church unless they repent and turn from these wicked ways. In verse 14, Paul lays out what church discipline is to look like. He says that this person is to be cast out of the church. This is for the purity of the church, but it is also so that he would be warned. Notice in verse 15 that Paul still calls him a brother. Rick Phillips has it right when he says, “The primary purpose of church discipline is to restore a member who has fallen into serious sin.”

2. Why do we work? (vv.7-10)

With that let us move on to our second point as we ask, “Why do we work?” Look with me at 7. Now, there are many reasons that we work, but Paul brings up a few specific reasons that we will look into. First, notice in verse 7 that Paul beings with the word ‘imitate.’ In contrast to the person who lives an unruly life Paul reminds the Thessalonians that they are aware of how to work. It is like a parent/child relationship. Imagine showing a child how to ride a motorcycle. The father shows his child what he needs to wear and how to operate the machine. As he practices riding, he notices that other people do not ride as his dad did and they are not wearing helmets, leather jackets, and other things his father told him to wear. The day for his test arrives and he fails because instead of listening to his father, he followed the other examples. He comes home and the father asks how it went and the child tells him that he failed. The father’s response would be “I showed you how to do it, and what you needed to wear. You had no reason to follow anyone else.” This is what Paul is saying here. He is telling the Thessalonians that he has put forth an example of someone who is not living an unruly life. This type of language is common in Paul’s writings. Let me offer a few. Acts 20:34-35 as Paul addresses the Ephesian elders one last time “You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my own needs and to those who were with me. In everything I showed you that by laboring in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Philippians 3:17 “Brothers, join in following my example, and look for those who walk according to the pattern you have in us.” Philippians 4:9 “The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”

In verse 8, Paul recalls those things that he, Silvanus, and Timothy did while they were among the Thessalonians. He recalls paying for the food that they ate and that they worked every day so that they would not be a burden on the church. The work that they did was laborious and difficult. In other words, it was “toil resulting in weariness, laborious toil.” Paul’s use of the word ‘hardship’ after it reinforces the difficulty in the work that they were doing. Now, this does not mean that the only type of work that is toiling is outside, or that you must lift heavy objects and put them down. It can also mean being in front of a computer all day working at solving problems, it could mean direct care and social work dealing with a varying degree of emotions, it could mean being a manager of a crew that is very difficult to get motivated and get anything done. Even the jobs of the rich are difficult. They may not seem like it but consider managing a multi-million-dollar company or assessing conservative vs risk regarding how money is spent, and assets allocated. Every job is difficult due to it being cursed because of our sin. Make no mistake, work was NEVER intended to be difficult the way it is today. As a matter of fact, work is a blessing from God. Before the fall “Yahweh God took the man and set him in the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it” (Gen. 2:15).

Look at verse 9. He says that he worked to offer himself as a model so that he would be imitated. It is not only Paul that worked as a model to be followed. Our Lord Jesus performed works that would offer a model of service. John 12:35 is Jesus’ commission to the disciples regarding service and He does so by telling his disciples to follow His example by serving one another, this occurs after He washes the disciples’ feet which was the lowest of the low jobs to be done, it was performed by slaves, Jesus tells us that those who follow Him, regardless of authoritative status, must serve one another. One more example comes from 1 Peter 5:1-3 regarding the role of an elder in the church. He tells elders to “shepherd the flock of God among you, overseeing not under compulsion, but willingly, according to God; and not for dishonest gain but with eagerness; nor yet as lording over those allotted to you, but being examples to the flock.” Many of the words used in 1 Peter 5 could be attributed to our work. We work as those who are eager to obey God, we work willingly not begrudgingly, and we do so as examples to others as to how a Christian is to work.

We also work to reap the fruits of our labor. Now, there are several ways that commentators have worked through verse 10, but for our consideration, I want us to consider the act of reaping and sowing. This verse has been used as both an encouragement and a threat. However, it is true that if you work hard, you will be blessed by the harvest that is sown for Ecclesiastes 3:13 tells us, “that every man who eats and drinks and sees good in all his labor – it is the gift of God.” On the flip side of that, it is also true that if you do not work, do not expect to reap a bountiful harvest. I used bountiful on purpose because not working and abusing the welfare system while living in the inner city is NOT a bountiful harvest! Here are a few verses to consider from Proverbs. Proverbs 13:4 “The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, but the soul of the diligent is enriched.” 20:4 “The sluggard does not plow from winter on, so he begs during the harvest and has nothing.” 21:25 “The desire of the sluggard puts him to death, for his hands refuse to work.” It is enough for us this morning to see the contrast between the worker and the sluggard. Let’s move on to our final point.

3. Work is good, press on.

We finish this morning in verses 12 and 13. Both the person acting like the busybody and the one who is not is exhorted. In verse 12, the busybody is exhorted to work quietly and to eat of his labors. The quiet or tranquil life of work is quite different from the gossiper who is getting into the business of everyone around. May we be encouraged that as we reach out to people that are living as a busybody, God can change their hearts and their minds and redirect him/her back to Himself. He can bring them to remembrance, 1 Thessalonians 4:11 which tells us to, “make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands.” Thus, Paul simply states, work hard and enjoy the proceeds.

In verse 13, Paul encourages the Thessalonians to not lose heart. 1 Corinthians 15:58 is of great encouragement to us this morning, “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”

Verse 13 is also an exhortation that in the midst of people who are not working unto the Lord, to continue to press on and do good by the work they are doing. Paul told the Galatians the same thing in 6:9 “And let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.” Paul understands that work is monotonous, it is long, it is tiring and wearying, it is difficult, it is in some cases painful. Amidst these truths about work, Paul encourages the brothers to press on. We do not work unto a paycheck or providing for a family first, but we work unto the Lord. Everything else runs down from that. We must begin with the Lord. This is especially true when we look at those who do not work hard and make the same amount of money or even more. This is true when we see unbelievers living better earthly lives than we do. It is also true that Christians can work hard and go through a very difficult financial stretch. Just because we work does not guarantee that we will immediately reap the fruits from our labor. Hence, Paul, imploring the brothers not to grow weary doing good in their work. Regarding all these things, Christian, it is for the Lord that we work, and we look forward to eternal glory in sinless perfection with our Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ. Press on!

This is also applied to those who are retired and to children. Although the working days have ended or they have not yet begun, it is the responsibility of every believer both young and old to work, whatever that may look like, and to press on doing good work for the Kingdom.

Conclusion:

What is the purpose of our work? Whether you are actively employed, or someone who is retired, or a child, the purpose of your work is to glorify God. Is there a consequence for those who do not work? Yes. What about those who are lazy and lackluster in their work? Yes. This is true for those around us who do not believe. But it is also true for us who believe. Might I leave you with a few things to consider.

1. Our work is to glorify God. Once we understand that and seek that to be our end goal in work, it is possible to find our work enjoyable, it is possible to still not. Whichever of these are true, the fact is that Christian, as you go through the daily grind, you might not enjoy it, but God is pleased with the work that you do. He is pleased by your obedience to His calling to you and to me to work for His glory.

2. Christian, there is a consequence if you are guilty of not working your hardest. Since the Lord sees all that, we do, He will see our work and judge it rightly. You and I will see the fruit of the toil that we do. He has promised us that. So, may we work so that we can see the gracious provision that God promises to give us as we obey Him.

3. Finally, you and I are not to be influenced by those around us who refuse to work or those who do not give 100 percent effort. Might our work show to them and to those who work hard, yet still unbelieving, the gospel of Jesus Christ as we work, not just for a paycheck, but so that His name would be praised and be made known to this world.

Benediction:

Psalm 134- “Behold, bless Yahweh, all you slaves of Yahweh, who stand in the house of Yahweh by night! Lift up your hands to the sanctuary and bless Yahweh. May Yahweh bless you from Zion, who made heaven and earth.”