Don't Be An Active, But Idle, Busy Body Series

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Message

2 Thessalonians 3:1-18

Don't Be An Active, But Idle, Busy Body

Through this sermon series on 1 & 2 Thessalonians we have seen that the church in Thessalonica is a faithful model of discipleship that is an incredible example to, and spoken of highly by, other churches in Macedonia and Asia.

Yet, within the church, there is a sin taking place that is causing ongoing disruption and concern.

We hear that some among you are idle and disruptive. They are not busy; they are busybodies.

2 Thessalonians 3:11

This is the first and only time that Paul specifically calls out a known sin in Thessalonica.

Yes … being a busy body is a sin.

Take special note of anyone who does not obey our instruction in this letter. Do not associate with them, in order that they may feel ashamed. Yet do not regard them as an enemy, but warn them as you would a fellow believer.

2 Thessalonians 3:14-15

If being a busybody wasn’t a sin, this sort of response to such a person wouldn’t be necessary. Indeed, for the church in Thessalonica we can be sure that this is a sin that has been occurring for some time.

Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you.

1 Thessalonians 4:11

When would it have been that Paul “told” them? It would have been when he first brought the Gospel, some 3-6 months before hand.

Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone.

1 Thessalonians 5:12-14

As he closes the first letter Paul gives some parting advise. He wants to be clear on where some attention needs to be given to certain behaviour – and encourages the church to be aware of the potential problems – so that they may be rectified.

But it doesn’t seem they this particular sin is rectified. So more words are needed.

Let’s read now 2 Thessalonians 3:1-18; pay particular attention to verses 6-15

Paul doesn’t mess around does he … he tells it how it is.

Which is really good for the church of the Thessalonians in the first century, because they know exactly who Paul is talking about. But we don’t know who Paul is talking about. So, for us to apply this Scripture, we need to ask some questions.

Who are the “idle and disruptive”?

That is how the NIV describes them.

The ESV calls them those who are “walking in idleness”.

In the NKJV they are “disorderly” and the NASB defines them as “unruly”.

The Greek word appears 4 times, all in Thessalonian letters, and looks like this:-

?ta?t?? – verb (2 Thess 3:7)

?ta?t?? – noun (1 Thess 5:14)

?t??t?? – adverb (2 Thess 3:6, 11)

I’ll use the word atakteoo when I am talking about the Greek word family.

atakteoo

The NIV and ESV call them “idle”. When we think about being idle we might think that we are talking about someone who is lazy and inactive. But this is not what atakteoo menas. Those who are of such a character are very active, but their activity is being used for wrong, or useless, or disruptive purposes.

Playing … constantly playing … video games.

It requires a lot of activity. Quick finger pressing. Concentration. Yelling at the screen because the computer isn’t being fair.

Lots of activity. But in some cases it possibly is an example of atakteoo.

atakteoo

We might associate the NKJV definition of disorderly with someone who is unable to keep their house clean. But that is not the meaning here. Rather atakteoo is the decision to actively act in a manner that causes disruption because a person doesn’t want to fulfil a responsibility.

You have a 2000 word assignment due on Tuesday midnight. Today is Sunday so you will spend time with family. On Monday you clean the house, then bake a cake, then do the groceries, and cook dinner. You know the assignment is due, but you deliberately don’t make a start.

Some would call this procrati-baking.

It is very orderly and methodical. But then at lunch time on Tuesday it hits you – my assignment needs to be handed in at midnight!

Your whole life goes on hold and franticness is in place.

That is possibly another type of example of atakteoo.

atakteoo

The NASB uses the translation of “unruly” – here we might think of people who are bullies and live in an unruly way. But that is not the meaning of atakteoo. It is more an unruliness that comes because they lack discipline.