Being Faithful in What You Do

Introduction

We Christians are called upon to be good examples in all areas of life. Now, when you say that, most believers think about being a good example to those who might be unbelievers. While it’s certainly true that the example we set can often lead to a conversation that ultimately ends up in a gospel conversion, what about being an example for other believers? When it comes to the way we live our lives, especially regarding responsible behavior, we’ve got to be cautious at all times because people are just looking for a reason to critique our Christian walk, and with that the Christian faith in general. The example you and I set is important! In the text we’re going to look at, 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15 Paul uses himself and his companions as an example, focusing in on an area of everyday life where our actions can either make or break the example we set. The way we do our jobs can be vitally important to the way people view our relationship to Christ and his kingdom. Have you ever stopped and asked yourself the question, “Why do I value my job?” (Pause), or better yet, “Do I work where I work and do what I do in order to simply draw a paycheck, or do I see it as a God given way to set a good example that points people to Jesus Christ?” Depending on our answer to that last question, I think we then need to ask ourselves this, “Does my work ethic, my example, show others that I’m living out my faith, and if so, does it call them to repent and believe?” In vv.6-15 Paul says that a believer’s faithfulness is seen to a great extent through the lens of a faithful worker.[1] First, in v.6 Paul gives direction concerning those who are walking in an idle, that is an irresponsible manner. Then, in vv.7-10, he presents himself and his companions as an example to follow, and finally in v.11-15 he admonishes those who are walking in an idle manner, those who might be walking in an irresponsibly way to repent. Let’s read the text.

[1] G. K. Beale, 1–2 Thessalonians, The IVP New Testament Commentary Series (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2003), 248.

2 Thessalonians 3:6–18 ESV

6 Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us. 7 For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you, 8 nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you. 9 It was not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves an example to imitate. 10 For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. 11 For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. 12 Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living. 13 As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good. 14 If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed. 15 Do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother. 16 Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all. 17 I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. This is the sign of genuineness in every letter of mine; it is the way I write. 18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.

Prayer

Paul Gives Direction

2 Thessalonians 3:6 ESV

6 Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us.

Take a look at v.6. Paul begins this last portion of his letter by giving believers some directions. He says, “6 Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, (here’s what he wants them to do) … that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us.” What does Paul there when he says, “… keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness …”? (Pause) What’s said here is directly tied to what was said in vv.1-5 of chapter 3, especially v.2. Remember, Paul’s hope was that the message of the gospel would “speed ahead (3:1)”, and that it would “be honored (3:1)”. Also, included in that hope was a prayer that he and his companions would be delivered from “wicked and evil men (3:2)”. Why(?) Because not all of those who heard the preached Word truly believed in it. Now, here’s the deal, things really haven’t changed that much since Paul’s time because there are still those who claim to be believers, but for the wrong reasons. Maybe they see a way to make a quick buck; maybe they see an avenue to build their ego; or maybe they see it as an easy way to take advantage of the kindness of God’s people. (Pause) Whatever the reason, the fact that people like this manage to find their way into the church and exist within it means that they can rub off on believers, and one of the best things you and I can do is make sure that we distance ourselves, that we “keep away from”, these people in that we do not allow ourselves to be influenced by them. These are those within the church who are acting irresponsibly, not walking “in accord with the tradition” laid down by Paul, and that he speaks of here in v.6. The big question is, how can we distance ourselves from these people and, yet, at the same time, maintain a connection that calls them to repentance and belief in the gospel?

Paul’s Example (and Ours)

2 Thessalonians 3:7–10 ESV

7 For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you, 8 nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you. 9 It was not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves an example to imitate. 10 For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.

Paul gives us an answer to that last question in vv.7-10, and he does so by telling us to follow the example that he and his companions set when they came to Thessalonica. In vv.7 and 8 Paul says, “7 … we were not idle when we were with you, 8 nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you.”. The point is that these men didn’t act irresponsibly when they were in Thessalonica. It would have been easy for them to take advantage of the situation they were presented with, and in fact, according to Paul in v.9, they “certainly had the right (NLT)” to ask the Thessalonians to care for them! However, they chose not to do so in order that they might be viewed as an example for believers to follow. Do you think, if you’d been it that situation you would have done the same thing? (Pause)

Illustration/Appeal: The majority of you will know that we have a food pantry here at Zion, and one of the things that’s impressed me about it over the last several months is the fact that we’ve continued to maintain it through the middle of a global pandemic. That’s definitely a testament to the resilience of those who are involved with the food pantry ministry here at the church. But more than that it’s a testament to the sustaining power of God. What would you say if I told you that it also sets and example for others, and also other churches in the area to follow? (Pause) You see, one of the big takeaways in these verses is that by following the example of Paul we, then, learn to be an example ourselves for others. I guess you might say that this creates a cyclical effect. (Pause) The touch point for our lives both inside and outside the walls of the church is whether or not we’re actually doing this. Are you and I, are we as a church, following Paul’s example that we might be an example for others to follow?

Paul finishes up this section in v.10 by issuing a direct command that appeals back to what he said in v.7. We know that because he uses the word “For” at the beginning of v.10 which ties this to v.7. Paul says, “10 For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.” Now that’s an interesting statement/command, and it’s in a place like this that we need to be careful. We will always have those with us and among us who are incapable of supplying for themselves, at least until Jesus returns, and we are called upon to take care of those people. However, it’s pretty clear from what Paul says here that if a person is capable of working, they should do so, and that, especially if they claim to be a believer because to not do so would be completely antithetical to following the example of Paul. I think the big takeaway here is that being a leech when you’re capable of providing does not bode well in setting a good Christian example. In fact, I’d say that it leads people to criticize the Christian faith and look at those who are doing it as hypocrites.

Admonishing Repentance

2 Thessalonians 3:11–15 ESV

11 For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. 12 Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living. 13 As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good. 14 If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed. 15 Do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.

-Let’s finish up with vv.11-15 where Paul admonishes those who are idle (acting irresponsibly) to repent.

Verse 11 acts kind of like a bridge between vv.7-10 and 12-15. In v.11 Paul points out that he’s heard that some of the people in Thessalonica were being disorderly; they hadn’t been working at all, instead they were being “busybodies”. In other words, they were meddling in the affairs of other people. Many commentators point out that this was likely due to the false teaching addressed by Paul in chapter two concerning the arrival of the day of the Lord. Apparently, some people in the Thessalonian church had bought into this false teaching and they had carried it to the extreme by quitting their jobs and leeching off of other members in the church. Paul wasn’t having any of that, and that’s where what’s said in v.11 ties in with and carries us on into vv.12-15. Look at what he says in v.12, “12 Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.” There’s one really important thing I want you to note here in v.12, Paul isn’t giving advice. He’s not saying, “Hey I would like to recommend that you guys stop doing this and get back to work.” No, he’s saying, “This is what you are to do!”, and the reason he’s doing it is because the health and well-being of the church is at stake. Remember, the example we set can make or break the way people view the body of Christ!

(Appeal) How often do we think about that, the health and well-being of the church? How often do we even stop to consider the truth the things we do, and sometimes don’t do, have dire effects on the way people view church?

Paul finishes up the last few verses here by turning to those in the church who are faithful saying, “13 As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good.” When you think about it, it’s pretty easy, right, for those who are constantly asked to give to get tired of doing so because they give of themselves so often. That’s particularly the case when people feel as though they’ve been taken advantage of! But look at what Paul says in vv.14 and 15, look at how he tells them to deal with those who aren’t following his example. He says that they should “have nothing to do with” with such people. Why(?) So that it causes them to be “ashamed” of what they’re doing. Now, in our western culture we don’t like to shame people, we think it’s rude or unfair, but in Greco-Roman culture one of the most powerful motivation tools people had at their disposal what that of shame. (Pause) One of the things that churches, especially SBC churches, are week at, and most simply just don’t do it, is church discipline. We’re afraid we might lose someone, but have you ever stopped to consider the fact that, in all actuality, the person might not have even really been with us to begin with? That said, the purpose of church discipline isn’t to get rid of someone, no, it’s to call them to repentance and bring them back! Why do you think Paul says what he does in v.15? “15 Do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.” (The thing that scares me is that we, as a church, will have to give an answer to God for our laxity in this area!).

Conclusion

So, as we finish up 2 Thessalonians, I hope you’ve been able to glean many things from what Paul has said. While this letter was originally written for benefit of our brothers and sisters in Thessalonica nearly 2000 years ago, it has been preserved for our benefit as the church of the 21st century. The truths contained here have not changed, not will they ever change. The question I want to leave you with as we close this exposition of both First and Second Thessalonians is this, as individuals, and as a church do we, and are we, heeding what Paul says? Are we living our lives in such a way so as to show Jesus to the world? They need us to do that, and they need Christ now more than ever! “16 Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.”

Invitation

Closing Prayer