A Christian Work Ethic

Introduction

In this portion of his letter to the Thessalonian church Paul reminds them of the commands he had already delivered to them regarding their work ethic.

There were apparently a group of professing believers in Thessalonica who were refusing to work and had become idle.

The problem of laziness and dependency are still prevalent in our society today. How many people intend never to work and believe that it is someone else’s duty to provide for their needs.

Paul was not speaking of those who because of disability or disease were unable to work. Those he references are those who are capable of work and simply refuse to do so expecting someone else to care for them.

Paul evidently held strong beliefs concerning the work ethic of believers and for good reason. Why is it so important that a Christian works?

Every professing Christian should endeavor to work for the sake of:

Provision (Vs. 10)

The simple principal that was taught by the Apostle Paul was that if an able-bodied individual refused to work then they should not eat.

This command has a two fold application to the believers in the church at Thessalonica.

The first being to those who refused to work. Paul’s command meant that if these individuals were not willing to work then they had no right to expect to eat.

It was the responsibility of the individual to labor to provide for themselves that which was necessary for their health and wellbeing.

The secondary application was to the church at large. Paul’s command meant that they had no responsibility to care for those who were capable of providing for themselves. It was not their responsibility to make sure that these idlers had food on their table.

Paul certainly would not have prohibited the church from giving to supplement the needs of those who were doing what they could to provide for themselves but he also would not have condoned their giving to someone who was simply expecting the church to provide for them because they did not want work.

As Paul wrote to Timothy he made a very strong statement about those who would not take responsibility for the care of their household. I Timothy 5:8- worse than an infidel. You get the sense that Paul really had no tolerance for those who were lazy and expected someone else to provide for them.

As Christians, we ought to seek out a job which will allow us to provide for ourselves and in the case of a husband and father to provide for our family.

We ought to have such a strong work ethic that it will lead to promotion above our peers in the work place. We ought to seek out a job that will allow us the opportunity to provide for ourselves and our family and also give to the work of God and to others as the Lord leads.

An able-bodied Christian who is dependent upon someone else to provide for their needs is living contrary to the plain command of the scriptures.

There may be times when we need some assistance to make ends meet but we have no right to this assistance if we are not doing what we can to provide for ourselves as we should.

It is unfortunate, but there are times when an individual must be denied provision so that they may learn to work to provide for themselves.

Let us never be guilty of depending on someone else for provision when we are capable of providing for ourselves!

A Christian should also endeavor to work for the sake of:

Prevention (Vs. 11)

The believers in Thessalonica who refused to work ultimately developed into busybodies and began to walk disorderly (irresponsibly/contrary to Paul’s instruction).

The same is true of those who refuse to work today. There is no denying that the more idle time that we have the more likely we are to engage in behavior that is contrary to the Word of God.

Many falsely assume that work is the result of the fall. However, it was God’s intent from the creation of man that we would engage in work (Genesis 2:15)

Those individuals who had become dependent upon the church for their provision became involved in behavior that stirred up strife, contention, and division. They were not doing what Paul had commanded and they ultimately would engage themselves in behavior quite the opposite.

These believers were busy meddling in the affairs of others rather than tending to their own affairs as they should.

If these individuals had been busy working they would not have been guilty of walking disorderly or becoming busybodies in others mens affairs.

Far too often idleness leads us into sin. We ought to busy ourselves with work so as to provide for ourselves but also for the intention of preventing the temptation to sin.

Studies suggest that increases in unemployment rates lead to an increase in crime rates as well.

If we will engage ourselves in work as Paul has instructs there will be far less time to be subject to idleness and the temptation to sin. So much sinful behavior would be easily avoided if we would keep busy with the work that God has called us to do.

This is true even inside the bounds of the modern church. The church where only a select few are engaged in the work of the ministry will often suffer from gossip and a critical spirit from those not engaged in the work.

The church where every member is engaged in the work of the ministry will often have a spirit of unity and of a unified purpose without the criticism and gossip that brings strife and contention.

It is easy to be critical when you are not personally engaged in the work of ministry but it is much less likely that you will have a critical spirit or that you will engage in gossip or backbiting when you are busy in the work of the ministry.

Paul confirms the danger of idleness as he writes to Timothy concerning the care of widows (I Timothy 5:13)

Finally Paul provides the church in Thessalonica with:

The Prescription (Vs. 12)

All of the trouble that had been stirred up in Thessalonica had a very simple solution and it was that those who had refused to work would get to work!

If you are among those who are expecting someone else to take care of you and are not taking responsibility for your own needs or the needs of your spouse and children. It is time that you get to work!

Paul commands these idlers to get work with quietness, that they would cease meddling in the affairs of others and cease to disturb and disrupt, as had become their habit.

He also commands them to eat their own bread, simply instructing them to cease from taking provision at the hand of others.

Every Christian ought to endeavor to work with quietness and to eat their own bread.

This is true both outside the church and within the church. If you are not engaged in the work of ministry in the church, maybe it is time that you got engaged.

How we ought to observe the example of the Apostle and labor and travail for our physical provision but also for the advancement of the kingdom of God.

Ephesians 4:12- we are equipped not so that we can remain idle but so that we may become engaged in the work of ministry.

One of the greatest tragedies in local New Testament Churches in America and around the world is that so few believers ever truly engage themselves in the work of God.

It is sad to see how many want to enjoy the blessings of the local church but who have not intent on contributing their efforts to the work.

Would you ask the Lord tonight how you might contribute to the work of the ministry of High Plains Baptist Church?

Conclusion

Paul letter to the Thessalonians leaves no question as to the work ethic that every able-bodied Christian should possess.

We ought never to expect someone else, specially the church, to provide for us what we are very capable of providing for ourselves.

Becoming engaged in work will also serve as a wonderful preventative for all manner of sin that may come and tempt us during our idle moments.

If you are not working as you should, it is time that you recognized your responsibility to Christ to work to provide for yourself and if applicable your family.

This is true also inside the bounds of the local church. It is vital to the health of any church that its member once properly equipped, engage themselves in the work of the ministry.